Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai
Chennai, Nov 10: Fourteen fishermen from Tamil Nadu were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy in the early hours of Monday after their boat allegedly crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and entered Sri Lankan waters near Point Pedro in the Palk Strait.
According to official sources, the fishermen had departed from Tharangambadi in Mayiladuthurai district on Saturday evening aboard a mechanised vessel registered in Vanagiri. While fishing in deep waters, the boat reportedly developed a mechanical fault, causing it to drift off course and inadvertently enter Sri Lankan territory.
Sri Lankan naval personnel on routine patrol intercepted the vessel and detained all 14 crew members, subsequently seizing the boat. The arrested fishermen were taken to the Kankesanthurai Naval Base in northern Sri Lanka for questioning.
Fishermen associations in Mayiladuthurai and Nagapattinam voiced strong concern over the arrests, insisting that the crossing was unintentional. “These fishermen did not deliberately violate the maritime boundary — their vessel drifted due to a technical failure,” said K. Muthu, president of the Tamil Nadu Mechanised Boat Fishermen’s Association. He urged the Indian government to take up the matter diplomatically and ensure the crew’s swift release.
The recurring detention of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities continues to strain bilateral relations between the two nations. Despite multiple rounds of talks and efforts to establish a lasting resolution to the long-standing fishing dispute, arrests frequently occur, particularly during peak fishing seasons.
Officials from the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department have notified the Indian High Commission in Colombo of the incident. Efforts are underway to confirm the identities of those detained and to liaise with Sri Lankan authorities for their release.
The Tamil Nadu government is expected to submit a detailed report to the Union Ministry of External Affairs, requesting urgent intervention on humanitarian grounds.