Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin today urged
External Affairs Minister Dr.S.Jaishankar to secure the immediate release
of 23 fishermen apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy along with their
five boats yesterday.
In a Demi-Official to Jaishankar, copies of which were released to the
media here, he said in yet another incident, 23 fishermen from TN along
with five fishing boats were apprehended by Sri Lankan Navy yesterday.
He 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 dependant on fishing, he added.
“The fragile coastal economy is facing a crisis and it needs our support”,
Stalin said.
“Further, as of now, 105 fishing boats of Tamil Nadu are still under the
custody of Sri Lanka and due to continuous efforts, the apprehended
fishermen are released but their fishing boats still remain under the
Sri Lankan custody”, the Chief Minister pointed out.
He urged Dr Jaishankar 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.
