Palanisamy wants concrete action

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Palanisamy sought his intervention and requested him to direct the External Affairs Ministry to take up the matter with Sri Lankan authorities in “concrete and decisive manner”. 

“The repeated incidents of apprehension and non-release of boats cause great frustration among the fishermen of Tamil Nadu”. Deprived of their primary means of livelihood, many families are driven to desperation and despondency”, he said. 

He urged Modi to take up the issue with Sri Lankan authorities at the highest level and ensure immediate release of fishermen and their boats. 

Eight fishermen have been arrested by the Navy for allegedly fishing in their territorial waters on Wednesday. Palanisamy sought Modi to ensure the release of 26 fishermen and 131 fishing boats currently in the custody of Sri Lanka at the earliest.