Ten fishermen from Tamil Nadu were on Tuesday arrested by the Sri lankan Navy with the State Government alleging that the “lankan Navy has little regard for the diplomatic efforts” being undertaken on the issue.
The fishermen were arrested on charges of crossing the International Maritime Boundary line (IMBl) when they were fishing near Katchatheevu.
One fishing boat was also seized by the lankan navy.
Chief Minister K Palaniswami said the incident came “close on the heels” of lankan navy personnel allegedly killing an Indian fisherman on March 6.
“Although shortly after the shooting incident, 85 Indian fishermen were released by the Sri lankan Navy, the apprehensions made again today indicate that the Sri lankan Navy has little regard for the diplomatic efforts being undertaken to solve the vexatious issue,” he added.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Palaniswami reiterated the need for mutually acceptable fishing arrangements between India and Sri lanka.
Tamil Nadu has pointed out various examples where countries sharing “narrow waters between them” have worked out mutually acceptable agreements on fishing through bilateral diplomatic efforts, the chief minister said.