47 Indian Fishermen Detained by Sri Lankan Navy: MK Stalin Appeals to External Affairs Minister for Intervention

The Sri Lankan navy detained 47 Indian fishermen on Thursday, which prompted Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to send a letter to Union Minister S Jaishankar requesting their immediate release.

During coordinated patrols in the Mannar and Delft sea regions, authorities not only arrested the fishermen but also confiscated five trawlers. According to the Sri Lankan navy spokesperson cited by PTI, the arrests took place at Talaimannar in northern Sri Lanka, where the fishermen were accused of illegally fishing within Sri Lankan territorial waters.

This incident follows a similar occurrence just one month earlier when 12 Indian fishermen were arrested and their boat was seized near Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka.

The fishing dispute continues to be a contentious issue in India-Sri Lanka relations, with some incidents escalating to the point where the Sri Lankan navy has fired upon Indian fishermen. Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, this long-standing disagreement over fishing rights remains unresolved.