Secure fishermen's release for talks with Sri Lanka: Jayalalithaa

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ensure release of 25 Indian fishermen taken into custody by the Sri Lankan Navy Tuesday to facilitate fishermen-level talks between the two countries.

In a letter to Manmohan Singh Tuesday, the text of which was released to the media here, Jayalalithaa while referring to the incident, said: "Prime Minister, Sir, this latest incident definitely requires your personal intervention and I exhort you to take concrete and decisive action to ensure the immediate release of the 25 fishermen apprehended today (Jan 21) without their being remanded by the Sri Lankan courts."

"Further, the 64 fishermen from Tamil Nadu who are still in Sri Lankan custody along with their 69 boats should be released forthwith. Only such a decisive action taken at the earliest could facilitate the smooth conduct of fishermen-level talks between the two countries," she said.

The fishing communities from India and Sri Lanka are slated to hold talks Jan 27.