CHENNAI – In a escalating maritime dispute, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has made an urgent plea to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to secure the release of 116 fishermen from the state currently held by Sri Lankan authorities. The call comes after Sri Lankan Navy apprehended 12 more fishermen from Ramanathapuram district late on February 22, pushing the total detained count to a staggering 116.
Stalin, in a formal letter to Jaishankar, expressed profound concern over the repeated arrests that are crippling coastal communities reliant on fishing for their livelihood. He highlighted that 259 fishing boats from Tamil Nadu remain seized by Sri Lankan officials, exacerbating financial distress among fishermen and their families.
The latest incident involved a mechanized fishing vessel departing from Pamban Fish Landing Centre in Ramanathapuram. Sri Lankan Navy intercepted the boat in the waters between Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar in Mannar Gulf, detaining all 12 crew members and confiscating the vessel owned by a local fisherman named David.
“These recurring detentions create an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty in coastal villages,” Stalin wrote, emphasizing the pattern of such incidents despite repeated appeals from the state government. He called for immediate and sustained diplomatic engagement between India and Sri Lanka to prevent further arrests and ensure the safety of Indian fishermen.
Fishermen’s associations have echoed the CM’s demands, urging both state and central governments to intensify diplomatic efforts. The ongoing seizures not only disrupt daily earnings but also deepen economic hardships for families entirely dependent on marine resources.
This crisis underscores the fragile state of India-Sri Lanka maritime relations, particularly in the Palk Strait region. As negotiations hang in balance, Tamil Nadu’s fishing communities brace for prolonged uncertainty, hoping for swift central intervention to bring their kin home safely.