Letter from Hon'ble Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thiru C. Joseph Vijay to Hon'ble Union Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar to utilize all available diplomatic channels to secure the early release and safe repatriation of all detained fishermen and their fishing boats

Detailed Summary

On May 12, 2026, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thiru C. Joseph Vijay addressed a letter to the Hon'ble Union Minister of External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar. The letter draws attention to the recent arrest of six fishermen, namely Tvl. Alex, Anthoni Rajan, Santhana Alocias, Arul They Britto, Albert, and Sahaya Selvashanu, from Mandapam in Ramanathapuram District by the Sri Lankan Navy on May 12, 2026, after they ventured for fishing on May 10, 2026, and allegedly crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). The Chief Minister emphasized the need to utilize all available diplomatic channels to secure their early release and safe repatriation, along with their fishing boats. Furthermore, the letter highlighted that 54 other fishermen are already held in Sri Lankan prisons, and 264 fishing boats have been impounded by Sri Lankan authorities. The Chief Minister urged the Union Minister to take up the matter with Sri Lankan authorities through appropriate diplomatic channels to ensure the immediate release of all detained fishermen and their boats.

Key Announcements

1
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu writes to Union External Affairs Minister to secure the release of six fishermen and their boats from Sri Lankan detention.
2
Request to utilize all available diplomatic channels for the early release and safe repatriation of all detained fishermen and their fishing boats.
3
Highlighting the existing detention of 54 fishermen and impounding of 264 boats by Sri Lankan authorities.