Stalin urges Union govt. to secure release of arrested fishermen from Lankan custody

In the wake of the arrest of 14 fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday requested the Union government to take effective steps to ensure the prompt release of all the detained fishermen and their fishing boats from the Sri Lankan custody.

In his letter to Union Minister for External Affairs S. Jaishankar, Mr. Stalin reiterated for utilising all available diplomatic channels to prevent further apprehensions of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.

A total of 14 fishermen from Rameswaram fishing harbour in Ramanathapuram district on March 6, were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy the same day. “This is the ninth incident of apprehension of Tamil Nadu fishermen along with their boats by the Sri Lankan Navy in the last two months,” he said.

As of March 7, a total of 227 fishing boats and 107 fishermen from Tamil Nadu were still under the custody of Sri Lankan authorities, Mr. Stalin pointed out. The Sri Lankan authorities were detaining fishermen for longer period of time and have started imposing heavy fines for their release, he said.

“Beyond the hardships of imprisonment, fines, and lost income during the detention period, fishermen are now facing an even greater loss of their economic livelihoods, as the Sri Lankan Government are not returning their boats which are their sole means of economic support,” Mr. Stalin contended.

The CM further requested the Union government to take effective steps to ensure the prompt release of all the detained fishermen and their fishing boats currently in Sri Lankan custody.