Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has written to Union Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar, urging urgent diplomatic intervention over the growing number of Tamil Nadu fishermen and their fishing boats being apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy in the Palk Strait and surrounding waters.In his letter, the Chief Minister highlighted the latest incident in which three fishermen from Mandapam in Ramanathapuram district were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy on December 28 while fishing with their mechanised boat, and called for immediate action to secure their release, along with other detained fishermen and vessels.
According to the State government’s records, a total of 61 fishermen and 248 fishing boats from Tamil Nadu remain in Sri Lankan custody following repeated apprehensions by naval patrols in recent years, causing severe disruption to the livelihood of coastal communities.
Stalin urged the External Affairs Minister to take up the matter urgently through diplomatic channels to prevent future incidents and secure the early release of all detained fishermen and boats. He pointed out that such apprehensions continue unabated and have pushed fishing families into economic hardship, as the coastal fishing community depends heavily on access to traditional fishing grounds in the Palk Bay for its sustenance.
The issue of fishermen’s safety and repeated detentions has been a long-standing concern for the Tamil Nadu government. In previous letters to both the EAM and the Prime Minister, Stalin has stressed the need for stronger diplomatic efforts, including convening the India–Sri Lanka Joint Working Group on Fisheries to seek a lasting resolution to the problem.
He has also underlined the historical significance of Katchatheevu islet, traditionally part of Indian fishing waters, and urged its retrieval to protect fishermen’s traditional rights.
The Chief Minister’s appeal comes amid growing distress in fishing hamlets across the State, where families continue to grapple with the consequences of frequent apprehensions, loss of equipment and boats, and uncertainty over future access to rich fishing zones.
The Palk Strait waters have long witnessed disputes over maritime boundaries and fishing rights, leading to recurring confrontations between Indian fishermen and Sri Lankan naval forces. Tamil Nadu authorities have repeatedly sought sustained dialogue and cooperative arrangements to mitigate such conflicts and safeguard livelihoods.