Chennai/ Rameshwaram: Even as India and Sri Lanka entered into a reciprocal agreement to release detained fishermen of both countries, Sri Lanka on Tuesday took into custody 25 Tamil Nadu fishermen and seized their six boats.
Chief minister Jayalalithaa in the evening sought the Prime Minister’s urgent intervention in securing the release of TN fishermen along with their boats at the earliest.
This move by the Sri Lankan Navy comes just days ahead of the proposed talks between the fishermen associations of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka to be held here on January 27.
“While the government of Tamil Nadu has taken such a positive and accommodative stance and has on date released 130 Sri Lankan fishermen along with their seven boats, it is most disconcerting and shocking to learn that the Sri Lankan Navy has returned to its marauding acts of assault and apprehension of innocent fishermen from Tamil Nadu at this critical juncture,” Jayalalithaa stated in her letter.
Jaya seeks immediate release of 25 fishermen
Chennai: Dismayed by the reports that 25 fishermen from Ramnathapuram distrÂict were nabbed by the Sri Lankan Navy while they were fishing in the Palk Bay early on TueÂsday, chief minister JayÂalalithaa shot off another missive to the Prime Minister.
In the letter, JayaÂlaliÂtÂhaa sought the Prime MiÂÂnister’s urgent intervÂeÂntion in securing the release of Tamil Nadu fiÂsÂhÂermen along with thÂeir boats at the earliest.
This move by the Sri Lankan Navy comes just days ahead of the proposed talks between the fishermen associations of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka to be held here on January 27.
“While the governmeÂnt of Tamil Nadu has taÂken such a positive and accommodative stance and has on date released 130 Sri Lankan fishermÂen along with their sevÂen boats, it is most disÂconcerting and shocking to learn that the Sri LaÂnkan Navy has returned to its marauding acts of assault and apprehension of innocent fishermen from Tamil Nadu at this critical juncture,” Jayalalithaa stated in her letter.
She pointed out that this belligerent action by Lankan navy has caÂused tremendous anxiety and agitation amÂonÂgst the fishermen community in Tamil Nadu. “The action of the Sri Lankan authorities has come as a rude shock to the fishermen community in Tamil Nadu,” the chief minister said.
Following repeated attÂacks by Sri Lankan navy on Indian fishermen, the state government had made several attempts for a meeting between fisÂhermen of Tamil NaÂdu and Sri Lanka following a request from the fishermen here to sort out the day-to-day problems faced by them.
The meeting of the fishermen associations of Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu was scheduled to take place at Chennai on January 20 but later postponed to January 27 following a request from the Lankan government.
As a goodwill gesture, both the governments have been engaged in the process of releasing rival prisoners of both countries in a phased manner.
So far, 130 Sri Lankan fishermen have been released with their boats. The recent arrests are seen as a setback to the proposed talks.
