Tamil Nadu Fishermen Continue Hunger Strike Over Sri Lankan Navy Arrests

Chennai- Fishermen and their families in Tamil Nadu's Ramanathapuram district are maintaining an indefinite hunger strike that began on Friday, demanding immediate central government intervention to secure the release of Indian fishermen detained in Sri Lanka and recover their confiscated boats.

Approximately 300 protesters have gathered at Thangachimadam despite heavy rainfall, while in Rameswaram, fishermen have been on strike since February 23 following multiple arrests by the Sri Lankan Navy. The week-long protest has left over 700 boats anchored along the coast, significantly disrupting the local fishing industry.

P. Jesuraja, leader of the All Mechanised Boats Fishermen Association, highlighted that on February 23, the Sri Lankan Navy detained 32 fishermen from Ramanathapuram and seized five fishing vessels for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). The ongoing strike is reportedly causing daily revenue losses of around Rs 1 crore and affecting more than 10,000 fishing industry workers.

Since January 2025, fishermen's associations report that 119 Indian fishermen and 16 boats have been apprehended by Sri Lankan authorities. Many families face financial hardship, often required to pay substantial fines to secure their relatives' release.

Fishermen's organizations across Tamil Nadu are coordinating larger protests against the detentions. Antony John, a fishermen's association leader, indicated that coastal districts will soon announce dates for statewide demonstrations, calling for immediate government action to secure fishermen's release, retrieve boats, and establish a bilateral agreement with Sri Lanka to prevent future arrests.

The associations have appealed directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi through a letter requesting urgent diplomatic efforts to protect coastal communities' livelihoods. Rajagopal C.M., a leader from Thangachimadam, criticized the government's response, noting that approximately 270 Indian trawlers have been impounded by Sri Lankan authorities since 2018.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has urged the central government to convene a Joint Working Group to develop a permanent solution. In correspondence with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Stalin expressed alarm over the increasing frequency of arrests despite repeated diplomatic appeals to Colombo.

"The continued apprehension of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy has reached alarming levels," Stalin wrote, calling for stronger diplomatic measures to ensure the safety and security of Tamil Nadu's fishing communities.