Sri Lanka navy arrests 23 fishers, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin writes to MEA

Chief Minister M K Stalin has written to Union Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar after the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended five boats and 23 fishermen from Pudukottai district on Monday. In this year alone, 221 Tamil Nadu fishermen were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy, the CM pointed out .
The repeated instances of arrests by the Sri Lankan navy are causing severe stress and anguish among the fishermen in Tamil Nadu . The fragile coastal economy is facing a crisis, and it needs the support of the government, he said.
Further, as of now, 105 fishing boats of Tamil Nadu are still under the custody of Sri Lanka, and due to continuous efforts, the apprehended fishermen have been released, but their boats still remain under Sri Lankan custody.
“I request you to take the necessary diplomatic initiatives to restrain the Sri Lankan navy from apprehending our fishermen and also enable the early release of all the fishermen and their fishing boats now under Sri Lankan custody,” the CM said.