Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai has announced that the Ministry of External Affairs is initiating steps to convene a Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting between Indian and Sri Lankan officials from the Ministries of External Affairs and Fisheries. The meeting aims to address ongoing issues concerning Tamil Nadu fishermen.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Annamalai highlighted that in 2024 alone, 273 Tamil Nadu fishermen have been apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy, with 204 of them subsequently released. He noted that 61 individuals are currently under judicial custody, while eight have been convicted.
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Annamalai emphasized the BJP’s commitment to resolving the fishermen’s plight following a recent discussion with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. “We have strongly advocated for an amicable resolution to this issue. The Minister has assured us that a JWG meeting will be arranged to facilitate discussions between Indian and Sri Lankan officials,” he said.
The BJP President had previously led a delegation of Tamil Nadu fishermen in a meeting with the External Affairs Minister to detail the challenges faced by the state’s fishing community.
In a related incident on August 1, a fishing boat from Rameswaram was reportedly struck by a Sri Lankan naval vessel early in the morning. Of the four fishermen on board, one was killed and another is missing. The remaining two were arrested by Sri Lankan authorities but have since been handed over to Indian officials.
