Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has written to Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, urging immediate diplomatic intervention to prevent the continued detention of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy and to secure the swift release of those currently held, along with their fishing boats.
In his letter sent on Sunday, Stalin highlighted a fresh incident involving the arrest of three fishermen from Ramanathapuram district, who were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy while fishing in what they described as traditional fishing waters. The fishermen had set out from the Mandapam fishing harbour on December 27 and were arrested the following day, along with their mechanised fishing boat, on allegations of crossing the maritime boundary.
Expressing serious concern, the Chief Minister said such incidents are occurring with alarming frequency, severely disrupting the livelihoods of thousands of fishing families along the Tamil Nadu coast. He noted that repeated arrests and the seizure of fishing vessels have pushed fishermen into economic distress and uncertainty, as many families depend entirely on fishing for survival.
Citing official data, Stalin said 61 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and 248 fishing boats are currently under the custody of Sri Lankan authorities. He urged the Union government to take up the matter urgently through appropriate diplomatic channels to ensure the early release of all detained fishermen and their vessels, and to establish effective mechanisms to prevent such incidents in the future.
The Chief Minister reiterated that protecting the lives and livelihoods of Tamil Nadu’s fishermen must remain a top priority in India’s bilateral engagements with Sri Lanka.
Source: DT Next
