The livelihoods of 15 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu were uprooted on July 9 when the Sri Lankan Navy arrested them and their boats in the neighboring waters. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has now written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, asking for his diplomatic intervention to secure the release of the fishermen.

Incidents of the Sri Lankan Navy arresting Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu for allegedly trespassing into its water are not uncommon, despite the two countries taking several measures to prevent such occurrences.

The fishermen’s reliance on fishing activities near the Indo-Sri Lankan maritime boundary to sustain their families and communities makes the issue even more concerning. “The apprehension of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy has become distressingly frequent, causing deep anguish and uncertainty to the fishermen and their families,” Stalin said in his letter to Jaishankar.

He requested the External Affairs Minister to diplomatically intervene with the Sri Lankan authorities to secure the immediate release of the apprehended fishermen. The Indian government has taken various measures in the past to protect the rights of Indian fishermen, such as the Indira-Rajiv Agreement of 1974, the Agreement on Economy Fishing Zone of 1976 and the Protocol of 1988.

In 2008, the two countries signed an agreement to resolve the deep-sea fishing dispute and in 2017, the Centre allocated Rs 1,631 crore to support the livelihoods of fishermen. However, the conflict persists.

The External Affairs Ministry can take diplomatic action to reach a resolution that respects the rights and livelihoods of Indian fishermen while maintaining friendly bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka, Stalin added. He urged Jaishankar to take all necessary steps to ensure the immediate release of the fishermen.

The long-standing issue of Indian fishermen being arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy has created immense distress and financial hardship for the fishermen and their families. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has called for diplomatic intervention from External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to secure the release of the 15 fishermen and their boats.

He has requested that the diplomatic channels be used to reach an amicable resolution that preserves the rights and livelihoods of Indian fishermen while maintaining friendly bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka.