CM seeks PM help to release TN boats in Lanka

Stating that loss of boats was pushing the affected fishermen to a state of penury, the Chief Minister said that the island nation had seized a total of 135 boats, which included 61 in 2015, 53 in 2016 and the remaining 21 in the current year.  In addition, 11 fishermen were still languishing in the Sri Lankan jails, he added. 

Charging Sri Lanka with “following a deft strategy of not releasing fishing boats even after the release of the arrested fishermen,” he said in the letter that this “move was pushing fishermen into a state of poverty depriving them of their only means of livelihood.” 

Referring to various letters on this issue addressed by the state’s former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, Palanisamy said he had reiterated the same points in the letters he had also written on the issue. He urged the Prime Minister to initiate necessary action for early release of the seized fishing boats and gear.