Sri Lankan Navy Arrests 13 Indian Fishermen Near Delft Island

The Sri Lankan Navy apprehended 13 Indian fishermen and seized three boats near Delft Island in the Palk Bay Sea area early Thursday morning. The fishermen, from Pudukkottai district in Tamil Nadu, were fishing in Sri Lankan waters, according to the Rameswaram Fishermen Association.

This incident has caused significant unrest among the fishermen. On July 1, the Sri Lankan Navy had also apprehended 26 Indian fishermen and seized four boats from the same area. The fishermen had gone fishing from Pamban in the Rameswaram Island area.

In response, the fishermen of Pamban and their families protested by blocking roads. In late June, the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended 22 Tamil Nadu fishermen near Neduntheevu Island, seizing three boats. These fishermen were from Thangachimadam village in Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, urging him to secure the release of all apprehended fishermen. Stalin emphasized that such incidents disrupt the fishermen’s livelihoods and create fear and uncertainty in their community.

Jaishankar responded by assuring Stalin that the Indian High Commission in Colombo and the Consulate in Jaffna are working to secure the early release of the detained fishermen. He affirmed that efforts to address the interests of the Indian fishing community would continue.