The Tamil Nadu Meenavar Peravai has urged the Central and the State governments to take immediate steps to secure the speedy release of fishermen from Nagapattinam, Karaikkal, Pudukottai and Ramanathpuram who are languishing in Sri Lankan prisons and also restore their belongings.
The Cuddalore chapter of the Peravai met recently at the port area, with its president M. Subbarayan in the chair and adopted a resolution that sought the Centre to put an end to frequent arrest and detention of Tamil Nadu fishermen in Lankan jails.
Through another resolution, the Peravai noted that since Tamil Nadu fishermen were facing threat from Sri Lankan Navy, the Centre ought to reconsider its decision to supply warships to the Mahinda Rajapaksa government.
Compensation sought
The Peravai also appealed to the Central and State governments to sanction compensation to owners of two motorised fishing boats that were destroyed in a fire that broke out at the berthing point in Rameswaram.
Fishing vessels often ran aground or hit against boulders and capsized owing to lack of proper lighting at the sea mouth near the Cuddalore port. This caused heavy loss to fishermen.
Earlier, two powerful focus lamps placed at the either end of the sea mouth helped the fishermen cruise through this critical and turbulent point without much difficulty.
However, the lamps were damaged in the cyclone ‘Thane.’
Therefore, the Peravai requested the Fisheries Department and the Port authorities to reinstall the lamps at the earliest.
Rangasamy writes to Manmohan
Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging him to take diplomatic initiatives to secure the release of 11 fishermen and four mechanised fishing boats from Sri Lanka.
The boats were seized during two separate raids in the end of July.
Although one group of 11 fishermen were released in the beginning of September, the other group of 11 apprehended at Mulai Theevu remained in prison.
Following the extension of the remand of the 11 fishermen, the fishermen of Karaikal and Puducherry went on strike demanding their release, the letter said.
