Chennai, May 12: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has urged External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to take immediate diplomatic action to secure the release of six fishermen from the state, who were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy. He also requested the return of their confiscated boat.
In a letter addressed to Minister Jaishankar, CM Vijay expressed concern over the ongoing arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities, highlighting the increasing distress within the coastal communities of the state.
He referred to a recent incident where six fishermen from Mandapam in Ramanathapuram district were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy on Tuesday, accused of crossing the international maritime boundary.
The detained fishermen have been identified as Alex, Anthony Rajan, Santhana Arokiyas, Arul D’Britto, Albert, and Sahai Selvasanu. According to the letter, these fishermen had set out for routine fishing on May 10 from the Mandapam coastal area in a traditional boat but were captured by the Sri Lankan Navy on May 12.
CM Vijay stated that the repeated arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen have become a serious humanitarian and livelihood issue, impacting hundreds of fishing families dependent on the Palk Bay region.
He also noted that currently, 54 fishermen from Tamil Nadu are imprisoned in Sri Lankan jails due to previous arrests. Additionally, Sri Lankan authorities have seized a total of 264 boats belonging to Tamil Nadu fishermen.
The Chief Minister has called for immediate intervention from the central government, urging Minister Jaishankar to engage diplomatically with the Sri Lankan government to ensure the release of the fishermen and the return of their boats.
This letter comes at a time when tensions between fishermen and the Sri Lankan Navy in the Palk Strait have been escalating, despite several rounds of discussions between India and Sri Lanka regarding this long-standing fishing dispute.
The Tamil Nadu government has consistently emphasized that issues concerning the livelihoods of traditional fishermen should be addressed sensitively, advocating for sustainable diplomatic and humanitarian solutions to prevent future arrests and boat seizures.
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