20 Indian Fishermen Returns Home As Sri Lanka Releases Them

20 Indian fishermen reached Chennai as they returned home following release from Sri Lankan Jails. Officials on Wednesday informed about the release of Indian fishermen who belonged to the Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, and Tuticorin districts of Tamil Nadu.

Sri Lankan Navy arrested the fishermen a year ago for fishing in the coastal area inside the Sri Lankan border and they remained in judicial custody for a year.

The fishermen were flown to Chennai from Columbo after they were handed over to the Indian Embassy in Sri Lanka’s Capital. At the Indian Embassy, they were provided with temporary citizenship.

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They were taken to their home towns after citizenship verification, customs checks, and other formalities at Chennai airport.

It is important to note that fishermen associations of Tamil Nadu have been organizing large-scale protests across coastal areas for regular arrests of fishermen from the state.

Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had recently discussed this issue with visiting Sri Lankan President Anura Dissanayake, highlighting the frequent arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the country’s Navy.

PMK President and former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss also called for strong intervention by the Centre to prevent further arrests of Indian fishermen.

Moreover, 504 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu are in the custody of Sri Lankan authorities. Around 48 mechanised fishing boats are also in the custody of the Sri Lankan authorities.