13 Indian fishermen reach Chennai after repatriation from Sri Lanka

13 Indian fishermen reach Chennai after repatriation from Sri Lanka

According to a statement released by the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, up to 13 Indian fisherman were returned to their home city of Chennai on Tuesday.

In a post shared on X, the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka stated, “Back home safely! 13 Indian fishermen were repatriated from Sri Lanka to Chennai earlier this morning.”

The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka said in a statement that 21 Indian fisherman were repatriated from Sri Lanka to Chennai earlier on January 5. The Sri Lankan Navy seized them on suspicion of engaging in unlawful poaching within its territorial seas.

“21 #Indian fishermen have been repatriated from #SriLanka to #Chennai a short while ago,” the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka had posted on its official X handle.

The Sri Lankan Navy announced in a statement from December of last year that they had captured at least 33 Indian trawlers and 220 Indian fishermen in 2023.

The Lankan Navy had detained six Indian fishermen in Tamil Nadu in December. In another incident that took place that same month, the Sri Lankan navy also apprehended 25 fishermen, 12 of whom were from Tamil Nadu and 13 of whom were from Puducherry.

The Tamil Nadu government, as well as the Center, have expressed alarm about the recent arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in October of last year to voice his concerns about the Sri Lankan Navy’s repeated arrests of Indian fishermen. He also reiterated his demand that the Center take the necessary steps to protect the state’s fishermen’s traditional fishing rights in the Palk Bay region.

EAM Jaishankar was also contacted by Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai on the matter. The topic was also brought up in the meeting between Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July last year.

“We also discussed the issues related to the livelihood of fishermen. We agree that we should proceed with a humane approach in this matter,” PM Modi said in a statement after meeting Ranil Wickremesinghe.

(With agency inputs)