Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi Palanisamy writes to Prime Minister Modi over Sri Lankan fisheries bill

The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday expressed apprehensions over a Sri Lankan fisheries bill, saying it was aimed at fishermen from its state and urged the Centre to take up the matter with Colombo to ensure that it is not implemented.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami referred to Sri Lanka’s latest Foreign Fishing Vessels Bill, pointing out it allowed for longer periods of incarceration and huge penalties. 

Palaniswami also sought the Centre to secure the release of eight fishermen, along with their two mechanised fishing boats from Pudukkottai apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy in the wee hours of Thursday besides 102 fishers languishing in Lankan Prison and their 163 confiscated boats.