In a powerful show of defiance, fishermen in Ramanathapuram district halted all fishing operations on Saturday, protesting the arrest of 22 Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy this week. The one-day strike, organized by multiple fishermen’s unions, underscored growing frustration with repeated cross-border detentions and called for immediate intervention from New Delhi.
The arrests occurred just days ago in the Palk Strait, a vital fishing ground straddling the two nations. Sri Lankan naval forces reportedly seized four mechanized trawlers near Katchatheevu and Neduntheevu islands, detaining crew members from Rameshwaram and Mandapam. The fishermen were produced before a Sri Lankan court and remanded in judicial custody for 15 days, prompting the coastal communities to down tools.
Hundreds gathered for protests in Thangachimadam, including boat owners and crew members, voicing their anger. Fishermen leader Jesu Raja accused the central government of inaction, labeling it a ‘silent spectator’ to the plight of Tamil Nadu’s fishermen. He highlighted Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent visit to New Delhi for an international summit, urging that the issue be raised at the highest diplomatic levels.
‘The Prime Minister must directly engage Sri Lankan leadership to end these arrests,’ Raja demanded, emphasizing the need for a permanent solution. Local fishermen rely on the Palk Strait for their livelihood, but frequent seizures have plunged families into economic distress. Over the past years, Sri Lankan authorities have confiscated numerous boats, many still held without return.
Unions claim more than 100 Indian trawlers remain in Sri Lankan custody, saddling owners with massive debts. Beyond finances, the social toll is severe: families face hefty court fines, and failure to pay leads to prolonged imprisonments, heaping emotional strain on women and children left behind.
Demonstrators pressed for swift diplomatic action to secure the release of detained fishermen, retrieve seized vessels, and safeguard traditional fishing rights. As tensions simmer along the maritime border, the strike signals a breaking point for these coastal communities dependent on the sea for survival.