In light of the recent arrest of 14 fishermen from Tamil Nadu by the Sri Lankan Navy, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday (November 10, 2025) wrote to Union Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar, requesting to utilise all available diplomatic channels to secure the early release and safe repatriation of all the detained fishermen and their fishing boats. The group of fishermen, hailing from Mayiladuthurai district, was arrested on November 9.
Mr. Stalin contended: “It is a matter of deep concern that incidents of Indian fishermen and their fishing vessels being detained by the Sri Lankan authorities continue to occur. Several fishermen apprehended in 2024 are still under detention, and in total, 128 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and 248 fishing boats remain under Sri Lankan custody.”
The “high frequency” of arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen and the seizure of their boats have caused severe hardship to their families and have deeply affected the coastal communities that depend on fishing as their primary livelihood, Mr. Stalin said and further urged the Union government to take concerted measures to revitalise the Joint Working Group mechanism and work towards a mutually acceptable and lasting resolution to this long-standing issue.