14 Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan Navy, two boats seized

Fourteen fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan Navy for poaching, sparking protests and calls for government intervention.

Fourteen fishermen from the coastal district of Ramanathapuram were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy personnel on charges of poaching and two trawlers were seized in the early hours of Sunday (February 9, 2025).

Fisheries Department officials here told The Hindu that they had issued 427 tokens on Saturday from the fishing harbour and that they were expected to return to shores on Sunday evening.

When 14 fishermen (eleven in one boat and three in another trawler) were engaged in fishing, the Sri Lankan Navy detained them under charges of poaching in the Palk Bay area. They were taken to the Naval Port and handed them over to the authorities for further legal action.

In less than a fortnight alone, over 50 fishermen were held and only a few days ago, they had registered their protest by way of a demonstration near Rameswaram bus stand.

Senior fishermen leader Sesu Raja said that they would convene a meeting on Monday (February 10) and decide about the next course of action.

In the meantime, he told this correspondent that the Union government had to step in and hold talks with the Sri Lankan government. “Only this will bring about a permanent solution...” he said.

The high level meeting with the fishermen associations in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province should be arranged for direct talks with the fishermen from Tamil Nadu. “The Sri Lankan government should allow us in Katchatheevu for three days in a week... The catch is only there.. Hence, the governments should enter into a Memorandum of Understanding for 50 years,” Mr. Sesu Raja said.