CM Stalin Tells Modi to Take Up Fishermen Issue With Lankan PM
Chennai: The recovery of Katchatheevu and the release of 76 Tamil Nadu fishermen and their 242 boats from Sri Lankan custody were among the major issues Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted to raise in his meeting with his Sri Lankan counterpart Harini Amarasurya, who arrived in New Delhi on Thursday on a three-day visit to India.
In a letter to Modi on Thursday, the Prime Minister said Amarasurya’s visit provides a valuable opportunity to address the persistent challenges and significant challenges faced by Tamil Nadu fishermen in the traditional fishing waters of Palk Bay due to repeated incidents of harassment, assault and detention by the Sri Lankan Navy.
He said that since 2021, 1482 fishermen and 198 fishing boats have been caught in 106 separate incidents, causing distress and economic loss to fishing communities and the State government has continuously sought the Union Government’s intervention to address these issues through diplomatic channels.
Stating that he appealed to Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar 72 times, in addition to conveying the issue to the Prime Minister’s Office 11 times, he added that five critical issues should be discussed with the Sri Lankan Prime Minister as the events continue unabated.
He wanted Modi to press for the immediate release of Tamil Nadu fishermen and fishing boats to ease the distress of affected families, along with the retrieval of Katchatheevu Island, which was historically part of India and where Tamil Nadu fishermen traditionally fished in the surrounding waters.
Stalin emphasized the importance of bilateral security coordination and consistent diplomatic interaction to put an end to frequent attacks on Indian fishermen and the theft of their fishing equipment and catch allegedly by Sri Lankan nationals; because these events aroused fear and distrust among coastal communities.
He said since Katchatheevu Island was handed over to Sri Lanka by the Union Government without obtaining permission from the State Government and without following legal processes, Tamil Nadu fishermen are now restricted from accessing their traditional fishing grounds and face frequent charges of harassment and trespassing.
Requesting Modi to initiate a dialogue with the visiting Prime Minister for the recovery of the island, he asked for ‘the restoration of the traditional fishing rights of our fishermen in the Palk Bay region’ as it would resolve long-standing and vexing issues faced by the fishing community.
Referring to the 2018 amendment to the Sri Lankan Fisheries Act, which led to the expropriation of seized Indian fishing boats, making their recovery impossible and resulting in serious financial difficulties and loss of livelihood for the affected fishermen, the Prime Minister requested that the issue be discussed with the visiting Prime Minister to ensure that their livelihoods are not permanently disrupted.
Stalin also pointed out that the Joint Working Group on Fisheries, established to resolve such bilateral issues, has not met regularly in recent years and asked for the revival of the mechanism that will provide a structured platform to address the concerns of fishermen from both countries.
