Take measures to release 80 fishermen from Lanka prison: CM Stalin writes to Central govt
Chief Minister M K Stalin today wrote to External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr.S.Jaishankar to take immediate and effective measures to secure the release of all the detained fishermen and their boats from the Lankan authorities.
In a Demi-Official letter to Jaishankar, copies of which were released to the media here, Stalin drew his immediate and personal attention to the recent apprehension of 14 Indian fishermen, along with their mechanised fishing boat and an unregistered country craft, by the Sri Lankan Navy.
“It is deeply concerning that, despite my repeated appeals to the Union Government to intervene diplomatically and bring an end to the continued arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, such incidents persist’, he pointed out.
Notably, the apprehension reported yesterday marks the 17th such incident in 2025 alone, he said.
Stating that at present, 237 fishing boats and 80 fishermen remain in the custody of Sri Lankan authorities, deprived of their only means of livelihood and their right to fish in traditional waters, the Chief Minister requested Dr Jaishankar to take immediate and effective measures be taken to secure the release of all detained Tamil Nadu fishermen and their fishing boats at the earliest.