New Delhi, Nov. 4 -- Calling the fishermen issue between India and Sri Lanka a "very important" and long-standing one, Sri Lankan Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has said that both countries must cooperate to establish a proper, workable framework guided by international law to address the matter.

"The fishing issue is very important. The two countries must cooperate and establish a proper, workable framework -- one that is based on fact and substance," Premadasa said in a reply to a question by ANI at an event titled 'India-Sri Lanka Bilateral Relations' here.

"There are international laws and regulations under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) concerning the continental shelf and high seas, which must be respected. I...