Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M.K. Stalin has requested the External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to take strong and effective diplomatic measures to prevent the arrest of the fishermen from Tamil Nadu and to secure the release of all the arrested fishermen and their fishing boats from the Sri Lankan authorities.

In a letter to the Minister, he pointed out the incident involving the apprehension of 17 fishermen and their fishing boats bearing Registration Nos. IND-TN-10-MM-411 and IND-TN-10-MM-544 near Neduntheevu today by the Sri Lankan navy. He said that the fishermen had ventured for fishing from the Rameswaram fish landing centre on the 28th of this month.

Mr. Stalin reiterated that the detention of the fishermen and the confiscation of their boats caused serious distress and uncertainty among the coastal communities. He also said that a memorandum has been submitted to the prime minister to initiate strong and effective diplomatic measures to prevent the arrest of the fishermen and to secure the immediate release of all the arrested fishermen and their fishing boats from the Sri Lankan authorities.