The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested six fishermen from Thangachimadam in Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram district and seized two fishing boats when they were fishing in high seas. The Sri Lankan Navy captured the Tamil Nadu fishermen who were allegedly fishing in the sea between Kachathivu and Nedunthivu. The 6 people who allegedly caught while fishing across the border and have reportedly been taken to Kangesan Naval Camp in the Island nation.
Similarly, on January 13, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 12 fishermen from Tamil Nadu’s Kottapattinam in Pudukottai district while they were fishing. Later, on the 16th, The Sri Lankan Navy intercepted those who were fishing in the low-lying coastal area between Thalaimannar and Dhanushkodi in the middle of the sea. They arrested 2 boats and 18 fishermen including Vijayakumar, Sangaliya, Yogam, Pichai, Innasi, and Swede for catching fish across the border.
The 2 dollar boats used by them were taken by the Marines to the Naval Camp. In the last two weeks alone, more than 40 Tamil Nadu fishermen from 3 districts including Pudukottai, Nagapattinam, and Ramanathapuram have been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy. In this regard, in a letter written by Chief Minister Stalin to Union External Minister Jaishankar last week, “No matter how many times we appealed to Sri Lanka, there is no relaxation in the detention of the navy of that country.” The Union Government should urge the Sri Lankan Government to stop such arbitrary arrests.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister stressed that the Ministry of External Affairs should strongly take this issue to the Government of Sri Lanka for the immediate release of all the fishermen and their fishing boats arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy.