133 Boats of Tamil Fishermen in Lankan Custody: CM Tells Jaishankar

Chennai: Chief Minister M K Stalin urged the Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to secure the release of the 21 fishermen from Tamil Nadu, who were arrested on Wednesday by the Sri Lankan Navy personnel, and also the 133 fishing boats held by them.

‘I would like to draw your immediate attention to yet another instance of the arrest of fishermen from Tamil Nadu by the Sri Lankan Navy on 06.12.2023. In three separate incidents, four boats and 21 fishermen were apprehended for allegedly crossing  the IMBL,’ he said in his letter on Thursday.

The details of the boats seized were: IND-TN-10-MM-1061 carrying eight fishermen from Rameswaram in, Ramanathapuram  District 8, IND-TN-08-MM-231 & IND-TN-08-MM-385 with eight fishermen from Kottaipattinam, Pudukkottai District on board and IND-TN-06-MM-707 with five fishermen from Jegathapattinam,  Pudukkottai District on board.

‘As you are aware, the poor fishermen depend solely on fishing for their livelihood and  these frequent arrests severely affect their sustenance,’ Stalin said,  requesting him to take immediate diplomatic initiatives to secure the release of  all the 21 fishermen and their fishing boats.

‘I also request you to take necessary  steps for the early release of 133 fishing boats already seized by the Sri Lankan Navy,’ Stalin said.