Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa yesterday wrote to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, drawing his attention to ‘a new trend’ adopted by the Sri Lankan navy to ‘harass and intimidate’ fishermen from Tamil Nadu.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister sought Narendra Modi’s intervention in this matter in order to force the Sri Lankan government to release the 21 fishermen apprehended by the Sri Lankan navy, including the six that were arrested yesterday.  

Jayalalithaa claimed that the Sri Lankan navy has started ‘a new trend’ of ‘harassing the Tamil Nadu fishermen.’

Speaking to Indian media the Chief Minister said, “Of late, the Sri Lankan Navy is targeting fishing boats stranded in mid-sea due to adverse weather conditions or mechanical failure as well as fishing boats that go to the rescue of such fellow fishermen in distress. These boats in distress and Indian fishermen on board are being apprehended and remanded to custody in Sri Lanka.” 

She lashed out at the Sri Lankan government saying that the 63 boats that were still in the custody of Sri Lanka’s maritime authority are poorly maintained and that the Sri Lankan government has no intension of releasing those vessels anytime son.  

“The 63 boats of Tamil Nadu fishermen in Sri Lankan custody are deteriorating due to lack of maintenance on a daily basis. With the North East Monsoon due to arrive shortly, these precariously berthed impounded boats will suffer irreparable damage if not released immediately,” she said.