Amma draws PM's attention to plight of TN fishermen

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Thursday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the arrest of fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy and drew his attention towards their plight because of the recurrent arrests.

"The attacks on and apprehension of our fishermen continue unabated, creating a sense of fear and unrest among the fisherfolk in Tamil Nadu. These poor fishermen were peacefully following their avocation of fishing which is the only means of livelihood known to them. They were fishing in the Palk Bay which historically is their traditional fishing waters," she said in her letter.

Jayalalithaa further said that 50 boats continue to be in Sri Lankan custody for several months now.

"Our fishermen are extremely concerned that their fishing boats, their sole livelihood source, would become unsalvageable after the onslaught of the North East monsoon which has been particularly heavy this year," she wrote.

The AIADMK chief urged Prime Minister Modi to take up the issue of the release of these boats with the highest levels of the Sri Lankan administration.

"I request you to immediately direct the concerned officials in the Ministry of External Affairs to take immediate action through diplomatic channels to secure the release of 29 fishermen and 53 fishing boats including the 15 fishermen and their 3 fishing boats apprehended on 26.11.2015," Jayalalithaa said.

"In addition the 4 fishermen in a motorized fishing boat who drifted on 8.11.2015, to the Sri Lankan shores due to mechanical failure continue to be stranded in Sri Lanka. Their early return also needs to be secured," she added.

Jayalalithaa had earlier last week also sent a letter to Prime Minister Modi, urging him to use diplomatic channel to secure the release of 14 Tamil fishermen already in Lankan jail and the release of 50 fishing boats from Lankan custody.