Tamil Nadu CM urges Centre to free 90 fishermen, 254 boats from Sri Lanka ; seeks steps to prevent arrests

Urging immediate intervention, Stalin called upon the Centre to take up the issue on an urgent basis through appropriate diplomatic channels

Tamil Nadu Fishermen News: Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has written to Union Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, drawing his attention to the continued detention of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities and expressing serious concern over the recurring incidents.

Referring to the most recent case, the Chief Minister highlighted the apprehension of seven fishermen and two motorized country crafts by the Sri Lankan Navy on 21.01.2026.

“I wish to draw your kind attention to yet another incident involving the apprehension of two motorized country crafts belonging to Mayiladuthurai District, bearing registration numbers IND-TN-16-MO-4245 and IND-TN-16-MO-785, along with seven fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy on 21.01.2026, while they were engaged in routine fishing activities,” the letter stated.

Calling the situation a matter of deep and continuing concern, Stalin said that the repeated apprehension of Tamil Nadu fishermen and the seizure of their fishing vessels by Sri Lankan authorities continue "unabated".

The Chief Minister noted that, as of now, 254 fishing boats belonging to Tamil Nadu and 90 fishermen, including those detained in the most recent incident, remain in Sri Lankan custody.

“These frequent and recurring arrests have inflicted severe hardship on the coastal fishing communities of Tamil Nadu,” Stalin wrote.

He added that the prolonged detention of fishermen and the confiscation of their boats have resulted in chronic economic distress, emotional trauma, and sustained anxiety among their families. The Chief Minister further stated that such actions by the Sri Lankan Navy have deeply disrupted the social and economic fabric of vulnerable coastal regions.

Urging immediate intervention, Stalin called upon the Centre to take up the issue on an urgent basis through appropriate diplomatic channels, to prevent further apprehensions and to secure the immediate release of all detained fishermen and their fishing boats.

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