Rameswaram: Hopes rise for early release of 27 TN fishermen

RAMESWARAM: Hopes for an early release of 27 Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in recent weeks and 81 boats seized by them, rose on Wednesday with the Island-government authorities reportedly assuring quick action on the issue to the Rameswaram Bishop, L Sahayaraj and other ecclesiastic functionaries from Tamil Nadu.  

The jailed fishermen, including from Rameswaram, were arrested for allegedly straying across the International Maritime boundary line between the countries while fishing near the Katchatheevu Island in the Palk straits.

Even as the Rameswaram fishermen have announced a protest in Chennai on February 29 before in front of the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner’s office in the Tamil Nadu capital to press their demand, the local Bishops from the State including the Bishop of Sivaganga had an opportunity to discuss the issue with the visiting dignitaries from Sri Lanka during the St Antony’s festival in Katchatheevu recently, sources said.

The Rameswaram Bishop told reporters here that they were assured by the visiting Sri Lankan Authorities including the Governor of Jaffna and the Sri Lankan minister, Ms Vijayakala Maheswaran that their government would soon take steps to release all the Tamil Nadu fishermen and the boats “at the earliest”.

The Bishop added they were happy with this development, coming as it did close on the successful conduct of the St Antony’s thanks-giving festival in Katchatheevu, in which people from both the countries had participated in large numbers.