Sri Lankan Navy Apprehends 13 Indian Fishermen Near Delft Island

The Sri Lankan Navy detained 13 Indian fishermen and confiscated three boats in the Palk Bay Sea. The fishermen from Tamil Nadu's Pudukkottai district were fishing in Sri Lankan waters, causing unrest among their community. Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister urged quick diplomatic intervention for their release.

On Thursday morning, the Sri Lankan Navy detained 13 Indian fishermen and seized three boats near Delft Island in the Palk Bay Sea, as reported by the Rameswaram Fishermen Association. The fishermen hailed from the Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu.

They were apprehended for fishing beyond India’s international water borders in Sri Lankan territory. This incident has sparked significant unrest among the fishing community. Earlier, on July 1, 26 Indian fishermen were similarly detained, and four boats were seized by the Sri Lankan Navy for fishing near Pamban in the Rameswaram Island area.

In protest, Pamban fishermen and their families participated in a road blockade condemning the actions of the Sri Lankan Navy. This follows a series of recent apprehensions, including 22 fishermen near Neduntheevu Island in late June, according to the Rameswaram Fisherman Association.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has since written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, urging him to expedite the release of all detained fishermen and convene the Joint Working Group to prevent future incidents. Stalin underscored the disruption and uncertainty these arrests cause within the fishing community.

Responding to Stalin, Jaishankar assured that the Indian High Commission in Colombo and the Consulate in Jaffna are engaging with Sri Lankan authorities to secure the quick release of the fishermen. He reaffirmed the ongoing efforts to protect the interests of the Indian fishing community.