Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has written a letter to Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, expressing concern over the recent arrest of 14 Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities recently.
The fishermen, who were fishing in the Rameswaram Fishery Harbour in the Ramanathapuram district, were detained on March 6, 2025. Their mechanical fishing boat was also seized by the Sri Lankan Navy.
In his letter, Stalin highlighted the ongoing issue of Tamil Nadu fishermen being detained by the Sri Lankan authorities, stating that 227 fishing boats and 107 fishermen are currently in the custody of Sri Lanka.
He said that this arrest marks the ninth such incident in two months. The Chief Minister stressed the severity of the situation, adding that the Sri Lankan authorities are holding the fishermen for extended periods, imposing heavy fines for their release, and in many cases, not returning the seized boats. He said this has not only disrupted the livelihoods of the fishermen but has caused significant economic hardship due to the loss of income during detention and the permanent loss of their boats, which are essential for their livelihood.
Stalin has told the Indian Government to take immediate and effective action to secure the release of the detained fishermen and their boats.
