MK Stalin writes to S Jaishankar over 12 Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested, boat seized

Twelve fishermen from Tamil Nadu’s Rameswaram were arrested and their mechanised boat was seized by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly crossing the international maritime boundary near the Dhanushkodi–Thalaimannar region on December 23.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, saying the fishermen had ventured into the sea from the Rameswaram fishing harbour on December 22 when they were surrounded by the Sri Lankan Navy. They were reportedly taken to the Thalaimannar Naval Camp for inquiry.

The Chief Minister said the continued arrests and frequent seizure of boats had caused “immense hardship and distress” to the coastal fishing communities.

He urged the Union Government to use diplomatic channels to convene the Joint Working Group/Fishermen-level talks at the earliest and secure a “permanent, mutually acceptable solution.”

Stalin also highlighted that 248 fishing boats and 62 fishermen from Tamil Nadu, including 18 detained in 2024, remain under Sri Lankan custody. He asked the Centre to ensure the immediate release of all detained fishermen and seized boats and to prevent further such apprehensions by the Sri Lankan Navy.

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