Convene India-SL joint working group, find lasting solution to fishermen issue, CM Stalin tells EAM
Stalin drew the Union minister's attention to the arrest of 10 fishermen from Rameswaram and the seizure of three of their mechanised fishing boats by the Lankan Navy on February 19.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin
CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday urged the Union government to initiate diplomatic measures to secure the immediate release of fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan authorities and secure boats seized. Stalin also asked the Centre to convene the Joint Working Group meeting to find a permanent diplomatic solution to the issue.
In his letter to Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Stalin drew the Union minister’s attention to the arrest of 10 fishermen from Rameswaram and the seizure of three of their mechanised fishing boats by the Lankan Navy on February 19.
Chief Minister Stalin requested the EAM to take effective diplomatic measures to prevent the arrests of the fishermen and to secure the release of all the fishermen and their fishing boats from the Sri Lankan authorities. Reiterating the need for convening the Joint Working Group meeting to find a permanent diplomatic solution for this recurrent issue, the CM said that the Lankan Navy’s acts of arresting fishermen and seizing their boats have seen an alarming rise in the past few months.
Stalin sought immediate and continued diplomatic action to stop arrests. The livelihood of the fishers and their families have been severely hit, he said in the letter to the EAM.
