Tamil Nadu CM Stalin Writes To Centre Seeking To Help With Release Of 23 Fishermen Arrested By Sri Lanka

Stalin said that 23 fishermen and their five fishing boats were taken into custody by the Sri Lankan Navy on November 28.

Tamil Nadu CM Stalin (File Photo)

Chennai: As many as 23 Tamil Nadu fishermen were arrested by Sri Lanka on Monday, Chief Minister M K Stalin apprised the Centre and sought action to secure the release of fishers and their boats from the neighbouring country.

Writing to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Stalin said that 23 fishermen and their five fishing boats were taken into custody by the Sri Lankan Navy on November 28.

Stalin said: "In this year alone, 221 Tamil Nadu fishermen were apprehended by Sri Lankan Navy. The repeated instances of arrests by the Sri Lankan navy are causing severe stress and anguish among the fishermen community in Tamil Nadu who are solely dependent on fishing. The fragile coastal economy is facing a crisis and it needs our support."

இலங்கை கடற்படையால் கைது செய்யப்பட்ட தமிழ்நாட்டை சேர்ந்த 23 மீனவர்களை உடனடியாக விடுதலை செய்திடவும், அவர்களுடைய மீன்பிடி படகுகளை விடுவிக்கவும் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கக்கோரி மாண்புமிகு ஒன்றிய அமைச்சர் @DrSJaishankar அவர்களுக்கு மாண்புமிகு முதலமைச்சர் @mkstalin அவர்கள் கடிதம் எழுதியுள்ளார் pic.twitter.com/DaUS9Qcmzi

— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) November 28, 2022

In a tweet, CM said that he has requested Union External Affairs Minister Jaishankar to aid the release of 23 fishermen from SL and their boats. 

As of now, 105 fishing boats of Tamil Nadu are under Sri Lankan custody. The fishermen, apprehended in previous instances, were released by Lanka due to continuous efforts of the government, Stalin said.

However, their fishing boats still remained under Sri Lankan custody. "I therefore request you to take necessary diplomatic initiatives to restrain the Sri Lankan Navy from apprehending our fishermen and also enable the early release of all the fishermen and their fishing boats now under Sri Lankan custody," the Chief Minister urged the External Affairs Minister.