Ramanathapuram, April 9 (IANS) Ten fishermen from Tamil Nadu were arrested on Thursday by the Sri Lankan Navy on charges of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and fishing in Sri Lankan waters, escalating tensions once again in the Palk Strait region. According to sources, the fishermen, all hailing from the Pamban fishing harbour in Ramanathapuram district, had ventured into the sea for routine fishing operations. They were reportedly fishing in the waters between Dhanushko…
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Colombo, April 7 (IANS) Thirty Indian fishermen were repatriated from Sri Lanka on Tuesday and are currently on their way back home, the Indian High Commission in Colombo announced. Sharing the update on X, the Indian mission said, “30 Indian fishermen were repatriated from Sri Lanka today and are on their way home.”The detention of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities has been a recurring issue, often arising from allegations of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in …
Mandapam (Tamil Nadu), March 5 (IANS) The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Station Mandapam executed a rapid and successful anti-smuggling operation in the coastal waters off Vedalai, seizing around 280 kg of illegally harvested sea cucumbers, an official said. The action on March 3 came after the ICG received credible intelligence inputs, enabling swift deployment of an Air Cushion Vessel from the station.The team intercepted the consignment in the near-shore waters, preventing what could have been ano…
Chennai, Feb 23 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday urged External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to take immediate diplomatic steps to secure the release of Tamil Nadu fishermen detained by the Sri Lankan Navy, amid continuing tensions in the Palk Strait.In a letter to EAM Jaishankar, CM Stalin expressed concern over the latest detention of 12 fishermen from the state and said the recurring arrests have caused severe distress to coastal communities dependent on fishing for th…
Chennai, Feb 23 (IANS) Tensions escalated along the Palk Strait after the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 12 fishermen from Pamban on Monday and seized their mechanised trawler on charges of alleged poaching in Sri Lankan waters.According to officials from the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department, the arrested fishermen had set out to sea on Sunday in a mechanised boat owned by David, a resident of Pamban near Rameswaram.The vessel was reportedly intercepted by the Sri Lankan Navy while fishing in waters be…
Ramanathapuram (Tamil Nadu), Feb 21 (IANS) Fishing activities remained suspended across parts of the Ramanathapuram coast in Tamil Nadu on Saturday, after 22 fishermen from Rameswaram and Mandapam were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy earlier this week. Members of various fishermen associations observed a day-long strike, condemning the arrests and urging the Union government to secure their release.According to association leaders, the fishermen were apprehended nearly three days ago while fishi…
Chennai, Feb 19 (IANS) In yet another incident highlighting the continuing tensions in the Palk Strait, the Sri Lankan Navy on Thursday arrested 22 fishermen from Tamil Nadu for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and fishing in Sri Lankan waters.Four mechanised boats used by the fishermen were also seized.According to fisheries department sources, the fishermen hailed from Rameswaram and Mandapam in Ramanathapuram district. They had ventured into the sea on Wednes…
Chennai, Dec 30 (IANS) Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu witnessed renewed anxiety among the fishing community after the Sri Lankan Navy arrested three Indian fishermen in the early hours of Tuesday and seized their fishing trawler on charges of poaching in its waters. The incident has once again brought to the fore the long-standing and unresolved issue of fishermen from Tamil Nadu being detained while fishing in the Palk Strait region.According to officials from the Fisheries Department in Rameswaram, …
Chennai, Dec 28 (IANS) Three fishermen from Mandapam in Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram district were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on charges of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) while fishing near Katchatheevu during early morning hours of Sunday, triggering fresh concerns over the safety and livelihood of Indian fishermen operating in the Palk Strait. According to official sources, the fishermen had ventured out for routine fishing when Sri Lankan naval personnel interc…
Chennai, Dec 23 (IANS) Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has written to Union Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar, urging the Centre to intervene urgently through appropriate diplomatic channels following the arrest of 12 Tamil Nadu fishermen and the seizure of their fishing boat by the Sri Lankan Navy.In his letter, the Chief Minister referred to the apprehension of a mechanised fishing boat from Rameswaram along with its crew on Tuesday. The fishermen had ventured out for fishing from the Rame…