Vijay seeks urgent intervention by Centre to free Tamil Nadu fishermen held by Sri Lanka
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to intervene immediately for the release of 20 fishermen from the State detained by Sri Lankan authorities and the return of 270 fishing boats currently in their custody.
In a letter sent to Jaishankar on Monday, the Chief Minister highlighted the repeated arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen in the Palk Bay region and sought the Centre’s intervention.
He referred specifically to an October 3 incident in which nine fishermen from Rameswaram were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy and their mechanised boat was seized.
According to Vijay, the recurring arrests have created anxiety among fishing communities along Tamil Nadu’s coast. Fishermen from Ramanathapuram and neighbouring districts depend heavily on the Palk Bay waters for their livelihood, making arrests and boat seizures a serious economic and social concern for their families.
The Chief Minister said the continuing incidents demonstrated the need for a more effective long-term mechanism between India and Sri Lanka.
He called for the India-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group on Fisheries to be strengthened and convened at the earliest. A renewed round of bilateral discussions, he said, was necessary to work towards a durable solution acceptable to fishing communities on both sides.
Vijay also asked Jaishankar to take up the matter with the Sri Lankan government and secure the early repatriation of the 20 fishermen as well as the return of the 270 boats.