Leaders of Rameswaram mechanised boat fishermen associations have urged External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to prevail upon the Sri Lankan government to secure the release of fishermen and 130 boats, detained in the island nation when she visited Colombo on August 31 for two-day Indian Ocean Conference. Thanking the Centre and State government for securing the release of more than 70 fishermen and 42 boats, including 36 boats of Tamil Nadu fishermen, P. Sesu Raja, leader of a fishermen association, urged Ms. Swaraj to secure the release of the remaining 130 boats. Mr. Raja, who was part of the seven-member team, which recently inspected the 42 trawlers berthed in Kankesanthurai, Karainager, Mannar and Trincomallee in northern Sri Lanka, said the boats have suffered extensive damage as they were berthed for more than two years without any care. Similar fate should not fall on the remaining 130 boats, he said and urged Ms Swaraj to take up the issue with Sri Lankan president and secure the release soon. These boats would become useless if they were not salvaged before the onset of the north east monsoon in October, he said. He said the Centre should accord permission to salvage 42 boats released by the Lankan government. The team headed by Mr. G. S. Sameeran, Additional Director of fisheries, had said that only 31 boats could be salvaged by towing, that too after carrying out repair work. Pointing that the Rameswaram fishermen were gearing up for deep sea fishing after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the scheme here on July 27, Mr. Raja said the revised subsidy scheme received good response from the fishermen and they were eager to take up tuna long liners. As it would take one or two years for majority of the fishermen to join the scheme, Ms Swaraj should talk to the Lankan president and ensure that they be allowed to fish in the Palk Bay peacefully till then. The Centre should ensure that fishermen would not be arrested by the Lankan navy during the period, he said.