Stop rising attacks by SL, CM urges Modi

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said, subsequent to the arrest of 14 fishermen and seizure of their three boats on Saturday, such apprehensions have a ‘demoralising impact’ on the fishermen as well as the people of the state. 

The Chief Minister wrote that the people felt strongly that Indian fishermen had a claim to the Palk Bay fishing grounds from where they were regularly apprehended. 

“In spite of the International Maritime Boundary Line between India and Sri Lanka being sub judice, due to the ceding of Katchatheevu islet, the Sri Lankan Navy is continuing its marauding attacks on our fishermen, besides abducting them,” he said. He recalled the state urging the Centre to use diplomatic measures to “prevail” upon Colombo “and reverse this trend.” 

“An immediate intervention at the highest level is sought to resolve this long-standing livelihood issue of our fishermen,” he added. He further said in the letter that the island nation had not released the fishing boats apprehended from January 2015, which was causing a great loss to the livelihood of the fishermen.