Palanisamy thanks Modi for release of 75 Tamil Nadu fishermen from Sri Lanka

Chennai: The state of Tamil Nadu seems to be warming up further to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the wake of the PM's visit to Rameswaram last Thursday, the chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswamy thanked him for his intervention enabling the release of 42 TN fishermen languishing in Lankan jails.

“We are happy to learn that the Sri Lankan Government has ordered the release of 42 fishing boats and 75 Tamil Nadu fishermen who were languishing in Sri Lankan Jails. On behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu, I thank you for your personal intervention and sincere efforts which have enabled the release of the fishermen and the boats”, the chief minister said in his letter to Prime Miniter Narendra Modi.

Palaniswami also urged the Centre to instruct the Ministry of External Affairs to secure the release of the remaining 107 fishing boats, which continue to be in Sri Lankan custody to ensure that there is adequate reciprocity to the various measures taken by the Government of India and Government of Tamil Nadu to resolve the vexatious issue, the letter added.

“In addition to the letters that our revered leader Puratchi Thalaivi Amma and I had written to you, during our meeting in Rameswaram on 27.7.2017, I had specifically requested to take all possible efforts to release our fishermen and boats from the Sri Lankan custody. Even before your departure from Tamil Nadu on 27.7.2017, the Government of Tamil Nadu received a communication from Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India regarding the decision of Government of Sri Lanka to release 42 fishing boats belonging to the fisherman of Tamil Nadu. It is now widely reported in a section of the media that the Sri Lankan courts have ordered the release of all 75 Tamil Nadu fishermen from Sri Lankan custody”, the letter said.