CM Stalin urges Union Minister to secure release of T.N. fishermen from Sri Lankan custody

In light of the recent arrest of 14 fishermen from Tamil Nadu by the Sri Lankan Navy, Prime Minister MK Stalin wrote to Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday, November 10, 2025, requesting the use of all available diplomatic channels to ensure early release and safe repatriation of all detained fishermen and fishing boats. The group of fishermen from Mayiladuthurai district were arrested on November 9.

Mr Stalin asserted: “It is a matter of deep concern that there continue to be cases of detention of Indian fishermen and fishing boats by Sri Lankan authorities. Many fishermen apprehended in 2024 are still in custody and a total of 128 Tamil Nadu fishermen and 248 fishing boats remain in Sri Lankan custody.”

Mr. Stalin said the “high frequency” of arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen and seizure of their boats has led to serious hardships for their families and deeply affected coastal communities whose primary livelihood depends on fishing, and also urged the Union government to take concerted measures to revive the Joint Working Group mechanism and work together to find a mutually acceptable and lasting solution to this long-standing problem.