A routine fishing expedition turned into a nightmare for 12 Tamil Nadu fishermen when Sri Lankan Navy seized their vessel on February 22 night. This has propelled the total number of state fishermen in Sri Lankan detention to 116, prompting Chief Minister MK Stalin to urgently write to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
Detailing the incident, Stalin noted the boat originated from Pamban Fish Landing Centre in Ramanathapuram and was nabbed in Mannar Gulf waters. The owner, fisherman David from Pamban, now joins hundreds whose livelihoods are stalled with 259 boats confiscated.
The CM’s missive underscores the humanitarian toll: coastal economies shattered, families in penury, and a pervasive sense of dread. “Such frequent detentions, undeterred by our appeals, necessitate immediate diplomatic negotiations,” he asserted, advocating for assured protections for Indian fishermen.
Representatives from fishermen’s organizations have amplified calls for accelerated talks between New Delhi and Colombo. They argue that without a robust framework, these incursions will persist, undermining cross-border amity.
This flare-up in the Palk Strait revives long-standing grievances over fishing rights in international waters. As Tamil Nadu watches anxiously, the onus falls on central diplomacy to disentangle this web of detentions and restore normalcy to seafaring lives.