Chennai:
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday urged the Center to find a permanent solution to the issue of Indian fishermen in Sri Lanka through a “tangible mechanism” and immediately release 21 fishermen and their boats from the island nation’s custody.
Stalin wrote a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar saying, “This is a very disturbing incident to bring to your notice.” Coast.
They had left Nagapattinam on 29 January and were sailing in a mechanized fishing vessel. The caught fishermen were taken to the Kangesanthurai naval base by the Sri Lankan authorities.
Another mechanized fishing boat (from the Karaikal region of the Union Territory of Puducherry) had 6 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and 3 from Puducherry, Mr Stalin said.
“I would like to bring to your notice that in the month of December, 2021, 68 Tamil Nadu fishermen were apprehended by Sri Lankan Navy in 3 incidents and recently released after strenuous efforts by Tamil Nadu and Central Government and Still awaiting repatriation. In this situation, the current incident of arrest of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy has caused panic and shock to the fishing community.”
Prolonged detention of Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan prisons is driving them and their families back home and many families being pushed into abject poverty in the absence of their sole breadwinners.
“I request your personal intervention in this matter and request the Union of India to find a concrete mechanism to permanently resolve this long standing issue between the fishermen of India and Sri Lanka. I also request you to immediately take up the present matter with the Sri Lankan authorities to ensure the immediate release of 21 fishermen and their fishing boats from Sri Lankan custody,” Mr. Stalin said in a letter to the External Affairs Minister.
,