Tamil Nadu: 17 Indian fishermen released by Sri Lanka arrive at Chennai Airport

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India]: Seventeen fishermen from Tamil Nadu who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly poaching in the territorial waters of the island nation arrived at the Chennai airport on Wednesday morning.

The Sri Lankan Navy detained the 17 fishermen and their three boats on September 13. Following the State and Central government intervention they were released by Sri Lanka Court on September 27.

As per the Sri Lankan navy, the fishermen who were poaching in the Sri Lankan waters off Kakarathivu and Kovilan Lighthouse, Jaffna, were detained. The navy brought their three boats to Kankesanthurai port and handed them over to the fisheries inspector at Mailadi for onward legal proceedings.

Earlier last month, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar urging him to initiate diplomatic efforts with the Sri Lanka government to secure the release of the fishermen detained by the Lankan Navy.

In the letter, Stalin sought to draw Jaishankar’s attention to the matter, saying that “three mechanised boats and 17 Tamil Nadu fishermen were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy, allegedly for crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) into Sri Lankan waters”.

These boats bore registration numbers IND-TN-10-MM-407, IND-TN-08-MM-214 and IND-TN-16-MM-2046, he detailed in his letter.

“The recurring incidents of Tamil Nadu fishermen being apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy continue to aggravate the atmosphere of fear and uncertainty among the fishermen in the region.

These fishermen, who rely on fishing as their primary and sole source of livelihood, sometimes find themselves unintentionally drifting into Sri Lankan waters due to the absence of clear demarcation and navigational challenges.

The apprehensions by the Sri Lankan Navy have escalated tensions, disrupted lives, and caused economic hardships to the fishermen and their families,” the Tamil Nadu CM added in his letter.

Stalin urged Jaishankar to employ urgent diplomatic measures to secure the release of the Indian fishermen at the earliest.

He also called upon the External Affairs Minister to find “a lasting diplomatic solution through bilateral negotiations to bring peace in the lives of thousands of Indian fishermen”.

Attacks on Indian fishermen by Lankan pirates have been on the rise for the last six months as an aftermath of the recent economic slowdown in the neighbouring country.