Colombo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the "complex" fishermen issue between India and Sri Lanka involves livelihood and humanitarian concerns and both sides will need to find a long-term solution to the festering issue.

In his press statement after talks with President Maithripala Sirisena, Modi said it is also important for the fishermen associations of both sides to meet at the earliest to find a mutually acceptable solution and it would be taken forward by the two governments.