Lankan navy arrests 21 Tamil Nadu fishermen: Chief Minister writes to Modi

Chennai: As 21 fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly entering into their waters, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisami on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention in getting them released.Nine fishermen in a mechanised fishing boat who set sail from Nagapattinam fishing base of Nagapattinam District and 4 fishermen in a mechanised fishing boat who set sail from Rameswaram fishing base of Ramanathapuram District have been apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy, the CM said.

Noting that the state government is “extremely concerned” about the continuing apprehension and detention of our fishermen and their boats, he said the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) is itself a matter that is subjudice in the Supreme Court of India.“There are presently 48 fishermen and 122 fishing boats in Sri Lankan custody. Further, boats and fishing gear of these fishermen which are the only means of livelihood of the poor fishermen are still impounded in Sri Lanka,” Mr Palanisami said in the letter.  He asked Mr Modi to take up this serious issue with the highest authorities of the Sri Lankan Government and ensure the immediate release of the precariously berthed boats.