- Wednesday, February 26, 2025
The arrests occurred during the Sri Lankan navy’s special operation in the sea area north of Mannar
By: India Weekly
THE FISHING community in Tamil Nadu is on an indefinite strike to protest against the arrest of 32 fishermen and the seizure of five vessels by the Sri Lankan navy.
The Lankan navy had on Sunday (23) claimed the action was taken after the Indian fishermen ventured into the territorial waters of the island nation.
The arrests occurred during a special operation in the sea area north of Mannar, and the fishermen and their boats were brought to the Talaimannar Pier for further legal action.
The Navy has so far this year arrested 131 Indian fishermen and seized 18 fishing boats in eight separate incidents for allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan waters, the statement said.
Meanwhile, in Rameswaram, the fishing community refused to operate 700 mechanised deep-sea trawlers as part of their strike that began on Monday (24).
The agitation is expected to incur a daily revenue loss worth ₹10 million and affect more than 10,000 families.
India said the use of force is not “acceptable” under any circumstances whatsoever.
The Indian High Commission in Colombo raised the matter with the Sri Lankan foreign ministry.
The fishermen issue is a contentious one in the ties between India and Sri Lanka, with Lankan Navy personnel even firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats in several alleged incidents of illegally entering Sri Lankan territorial waters.
In 2024, the island nation’s Navy arrested 529 Indian fishermen for allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan waters.
Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin contacted external affairs minister S Jaishankar reiterating his earlier request to convene a Joint Working Group of both countries to find a permanent solution and to secure the release of all the arrested fishermen and their fishing boats.
PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss termed the arrests as an attack on India’s sovereignity and asserted that Tamil Nadu fishermen crossing the maritime boundary should be seen as a humanitarian and livelihood-related problem.
