Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has asked the Centre to intervene immediately for the release of the 15 fishermen and 69 fihing boats taken into custody by the Sri lankan Government.
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, excerpts of which were released to the media on Monday, Jayalalithaa also demanded that the fishing boats and gears which are in the custody of the Sri lankan government “should be restored in a refurbished condition by the Government of India at the earliest.
The chief minister said though all the fishermen from the state of Tamil Nadu who were arrested by the Sri lankan government in 2015 were released following the efforts of the government of India, the island nation had not released their fishing boats and gears.
“Their boats and fishing gear, which are essential to earn their livelihood, have not yet been released, aggravating the sense of frustration and despondency amongst the fisher-folk of Tamil Nadu,” said Jayalalithaa.
She also pointed out that nine fishers from Pudukottai district in Tamil Nadu were taken into custody by Sri lankan Navy and asked the rime Minister to get their release from Sri lanka prison.
“I specifically request you to direct the Ministry of External Affairs to take up the matter with the Sri lankan authorities urgently and secure the immediate release of the 15 fishermen and 69 fishing boats in Sri lankan custody,” she said in the letter.