TN CM Vijay urges Jaishankar to free 6 fishermen held by Sri Lanka
Synopsis
Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay has written to EAM Jaishankar demanding the release of six Mandapam fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on 12 May — but the bigger number is 54: that is how many Tamil Nadu fishermen are currently imprisoned in Sri Lanka, with 264 boats seized. The crisis is structural, and diplomatic goodwill alone has not resolved it.
Key Takeaways
Joseph Vijay wrote to EAM S.
Jaishankar on 12 May 2025 seeking release of six arrested fishermen .
The six fishermen from Mandapam, Ramanathapuram district were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly crossing the IMBL .
A total of 54 Tamil Nadu fishermen are currently lodged in Sri Lankan prisons from earlier arrests.
Sri Lankan authorities have seized 264 fishing boats belonging to Tamil Nadu fishermen so far.
CM Vijay urged the Centre to engage through diplomatic channels to secure both the fishermen's release and return of seized boats.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Tuesday, 13 May 2025, urged External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to take immediate diplomatic steps to secure the release of six fishermen from the state arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy and to retrieve their seized fishing boat. The appeal came through a formal letter to the Union minister, highlighting the deepening livelihood crisis among coastal communities in Tamil Nadu.
The Latest Arrest
The six fishermen, hailing from Mandapam in Ramanathapuram district, had ventured into the sea on 10 May in a country boat for routine fishing operations. They were detained by Sri Lankan Naval personnel on 12 May for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). The arrested fishermen were identified as Alex, Antony Rajan, Santhana Arokiyas, Arul D'Britto, Albert, and Sahaya Selvasanu.
Scale of the Crisis
Chief Minister Vijay pointed out that 54 Tamil Nadu fishermen are currently lodged in Sri Lankan prisons following earlier arrests by the Sri Lankan Navy. In addition, Sri Lankan authorities have so far seized 264 fishing boats belonging to fishermen from Tamil Nadu. Vijay described the recurring arrests as a serious humanitarian and livelihood issue affecting hundreds of fishing families dependent on the Palk Bay region for their survival.
What the Chief Minister Has Sought
In his letter, Chief Minister Vijay urged EAM Jaishankar to immediately engage with the Sri Lankan government through appropriate diplomatic channels to secure the fishermen's release and ensure the return of their boats at the earliest. He stressed the need for urgent intervention by the Centre, underscoring that the issue had recurred despite repeated bilateral discussions between India and Sri Lanka on the long-pending fishing dispute.
Broader Context and What Comes Next
The letter comes amid renewed tension in the Palk Strait region, where incidents involving Tamil Nadu fishermen and the Sri Lankan Navy continue to recur. The Tamil Nadu government has consistently maintained that the livelihood concerns of traditional fishermen must be handled with sensitivity and has repeatedly sought permanent diplomatic and humanitarian solutions to prevent future arrests and boat seizures. This is not the first such appeal — successive Tamil Nadu chief ministers have written to the Centre on the issue, reflecting a structural gap in bilateral fisheries negotiations that remains unresolved. Analysts note that without a formal bilateral fisheries agreement addressing the IMBL and traditional fishing rights, such incidents are likely to persist. The Ministry of External Affairs has not yet issued a public response to Chief Minister Vijay's letter.
Point of View
264 boats seized, and a new arrest every few weeks. Successive Tamil Nadu chief ministers have written identical letters to successive External Affairs Ministers — yet a binding bilateral fisheries framework remains elusive. The IMBL dispute and traditional fishing rights in the Palk Bay are not new problems; they predate the current governments in both countries. What is missing is not diplomatic intent but a durable mechanism — one that goes beyond case-by-case releases and addresses the structural ambiguity that makes these arrests possible in the first place. Until India and Sri Lanka formalise fishing zone protocols with enforcement clarity, coastal families in Ramanathapuram will keep paying the price.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were the six Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested by Sri Lanka?
The six fishermen from Mandapam in Ramanathapuram district were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on 12 May 2025 for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) while on a routine fishing trip they had begun on 10 May.
How many Tamil Nadu fishermen are currently in Sri Lankan custody?
According to Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay's letter to EAM Jaishankar, 54 Tamil Nadu fishermen are currently lodged in Sri Lankan prisons following earlier arrests, in addition to the six detained on 12 May 2025.
How many fishing boats have been seized by Sri Lanka from Tamil Nadu fishermen?
Sri Lankan authorities have so far seized 264 fishing boats belonging to Tamil Nadu fishermen, according to the letter written by Chief Minister Vijay to External Affairs Minister Jaishankar.
What has CM Vijay asked EAM Jaishankar to do?
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has urged EAM S. Jaishankar to immediately engage with the Sri Lankan government through appropriate diplomatic channels to secure the release of the arrested fishermen and ensure the return of their seized boats at the earliest.
Why does the Tamil Nadu fishermen issue with Sri Lanka keep recurring?
The arrests recur due to an unresolved bilateral dispute over the International Maritime Boundary Line in the Palk Bay, where traditional fishing grounds overlap with Sri Lankan waters. Despite repeated bilateral discussions between India and Sri Lanka, a formal fisheries agreement has not been finalised, leaving fishermen vulnerable to periodic detention.
