New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Friday sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to secure the release of 27 fishermen and 71 fishing boats from Sri Lankan authorities.
She requested the Prime Minister to direct the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to take up the matter with Sri Lankan authorities urgently.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Jayalalithaa stated that apprehension of Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu was unfortunate.
“It is unfortunate that the apprehension and arrest of our Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu by the Sri Lankan Navy while pursuing their traditional avocation of fishing, continues unabated,” the letter said.
“I write to bring to your notice that two mechanized fishing boats with 12 fishermen onboard, who went for fishing on 10.2.2016, from Rameswaram fishing base of Ramanathapuram District have been apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy on 11.2.2016, and taken to Thalaimannar, Sri Lanka,” it further said.
She said that there is an urgent and imperative need to proactively initiate an appropriate set of actions that will bring about a permanent solution to the fishermen issue that plagues the livelihoods of thousands of Tamil Nadu fishermen.
“I urge your personal intervention in this matter and request you to direct the Ministry of External Affairs to take up the matter with the Sri Lankan authorities so as to secure the immediate release of 27 fishermen and 71 fishing boats including the 12 fishermen and their two fishing boats apprehended on 11.2.2016,” she added. (ANI)