Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has written to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling on him to “personally intervene” to assure the release of fishermen who have been detained by Sri Lankan security forces.
Writing to the Indian premier just hours after 13 fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan navy, Mr Palaniswami urged Mr Modi to “take up the issue of apprehension of Tamil Nadu fishermen in their traditional waters with the highest authorities in the Sri Lankan government so as to ensure the safety and security of Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu".
He stated that 84 fishermen and 59 fishing boats were being detained by Sri Lankan forces.
"The fishermen, who were apprehended since November 2017 are still in Sri Lankan jails, and their families back home are subjected to abject poverty,” continued the Chief Minister.
“On the other hand, in spite of the continued persuasion by the state government, the boats and fishing gear confiscated by Sri Lanka are deteriorating due to prolonged exposure to the inclement weather and lack of maintenance”.
“This is fuelling unrest among the fisherfolk of Tamil Nadu," he warned.
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