Chennai, Mar 18 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday

urged External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr.S.Jaishankar to take effective

diplomatic efforts to prevent further arrests of fishermen and to secure

their release along with their fishing boats which are in custody of the Sri

Lankan authorities.

In a Demi-Official letter to Dr Jaishankar, copies of which were released

to the media here, Mr Stalin drew his attention to the tenth incident of

apprehension in less than three months of this year 2025 by the Sri Lankan

Navy today.

He said three Tamil Nadu fishermen who ventured for fishing from the

Rameswaram fishing harbour yesterday were apprehended by the Sri

Lankan Navy today along with their mechanised fishing boat.

"In spite of my repeated requests for stronger diplomatic efforts to prevent

the arrests of our fishermen in their traditional fishing waters, the number

of such unfortunate incidents are rising continuously without any respite",

the Chief Minister pointed out, expressing his deep concern on the issue.

"As you are aware, the fishermen are highly dependent on fishing for their

livelihood and the frequent apprehensions by the Sri Lankan Navy have

pushed their families to the brink of poverty", Mr Stalin said.

"I therefore request you to take effective diplomatic efforts to prevent further

arrests of our fishermen and to secure release of all the 110 Tamil Nadu

fishermen still in custody along with their fishing boats from the Sri Lankan

authorities at the earliest", he added.

UNI GV 1700