New Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has urged Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to take immediate diplomatic steps to secure the release of 54 Indian fishermen and 264 fishing boats currently detained by Sri Lankan authorities.
In a letter sent to the Union Minister on Tuesday, Vijay called on the Indian government to engage with Sri Lanka through all available diplomatic channels to ensure the early release and safe return of the detained fishermen and their vessels.
The appeal follows the recent arrest of six fishermen from Mandapam in the Ramanathapuram district by the Sri Lanka Navy on May 12. Authorities alleged that the fishermen had crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) while engaged in fishing activities.
