CM Vijay Urges Jaishankar to Intervene Over Fishermen Held by Sri Lankan Navy

In a communication sent from Chennai on Monday, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay urged Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to intervene regarding the recurrent arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen and the impoundment of their boats by the Sri Lankan Navy in the Palk Straits.

The Chief Minister drew attention to the latest incident on October 3, when nine fishermen from Rameswaran were taken into custody. The Sri Lankan Navy also impounded their motor boat, which carried the registration number IND-TN-10-MM-0457.

In his letter, Vijay stated that 20 fishermen from Tamil Nadu continue to languish in Sri Lankan prisons, while 270 fishing boats remain held in custody. He asked the Union Minister to prevail over the Sri Lankan government to put an end to the recurring problem, noting that it has created fear across the coastal fishing community.

The Chief Minister highlighted that the ongoing detentions and boat seizures have subjected the families of affected fishermen to deep distress and acute financial difficulties. He noted that the livelihoods of fishermen in Ramanathapuram and adjoining coastal districts have traditionally depended on fishing within the Palk Straits.

Vijay pointed out that when these fishermen are prevented from operating and penalised through arrests and vessel confiscations, their families face severe financial crises.

To resolve the impasse, Vijay demanded the revival of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group on Fisheries at the earliest, calling for a meeting to be convened given the current situation. He further stressed the necessity of resuming bilateral talks between the two neighbouring countries.