Convene Joint Working Group to find permanent solution to fishermen issue: Stalin to Centre

M.K. Stalin
| Photo Credit: S. Siva Saravanan

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Sunday wrote to Union Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar reiterating the earlier request to convene a Joint Working Group to find a permanent solution and to secure the release of all 32 arrested fishermen from Rameswaram and their fishing boats from the Sri Lankan authorities.

“The apprehension of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy is still continuing in spite of my repeated requests to prevail upon the Sri Lankan government to prevent such arrests,” Mr. Stalin said. This year, 119 fishermen and 16 boats have been apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy in eight separate incidents, he added.

Reiterating his request to convene the Joint Working Group immediately to find a permanent solution to this long-pending issue, Mr. Stalin contended: “This is especially crucial since the livelihood of our fishermen families are impacted severely due to these apprehensions.”