In the wake of continual arrests of fishermen from the State by the Sri Lankan Navy, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Tuesday wrote her third letter in less than a fortnight to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to secure their release along with their boats.
A total of 15 fishermen are presently in Sri Lankan custody, including the four fishermen from Rameswaram fishing base, who were arrested by the Lankan Navy on June 4. Recalling her repeated appeals to the Prime Minister to mount a “strong diplomatic initiative” to uphold the rights of fishermen from Tamil Nadu, Ms. Jayalalithaa said, “… the situation at sea remains precarious with the continued offensive acts of the Sri Lankan Navy.”
The Sri Lankan “strategy of not releasing” the fishing boats, the main source of livelihood of the poor fishermen, was aggravating the situation, she alleged. In her letter, she requested Mr. Modi to urgently direct the Ministry of External Affairs to use diplomatic channels to ensure that our fishermen are allowed to peacefully pursue their livelihood in their traditional fishing waters. “I also request your direct intervention to secure the release of the 15 fishermen and 91 fishing boats in Sri Lankan custody, including the four fishermen and one mechanised fishing boat apprehended on June 4,” she added.