Chennai: Asking an immediate intervention in getting 15 Tamil Nadu fishermen released from Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K Stalin on Monday wrote to Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
“Through diplomatic channels, we can reach an amicable resolution that respects the rights and livelihoods of our fishermen even when maintaining friendly bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka,” Chief Minister wrote.
15 fishermen along with their mechanized boats were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy from Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram on Sunday.
The Chief Minister added that hundreds of fishermen depend on fishing in deep seas for their livelihood, and their arrest and confiscation of their equipment create major difficulties in the coastal areas of the state.
Pertinently, fishermen associations also have written letters to the Union government and state government asking to take steps for the release of mechanized fishing boats that are in the custody of the Sri Lankan Navy.
The fishermen’s associations had in their earlier representations stated that the mechanized boats, which are in Sri Lankan custody, were their main source of income.
With inputs from IANS