Amidst stepped up pressure to secure the release of over 220 Tamil Nadu fishermen detained in Sri Lanka, 22 more were arrested by the island navy early today while fishing in the Palk Strait.The fishermen from Jagadapattinam in Pudukottai District were arrested for allegedly fishing in their country's territorial waters and taken to Kangesanthurai Port along with their six

boats. Officials in Rameswaram quoting information received by them said the Sri Lankan navalmen also chased away another group of fishermen from when they were fishing near Katchatheevu after allegedly snapping their fishing nets.

A delegation of fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry yesterday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and urged him to prevail upon Sri Lanka to release their colleagues lodged in jails there.

Srilankan Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senarathne has said that he would be meeting his counterpart in New Delhi in January to discuss the issues plaguing the fishing community in the region. Over 200 Sri Lankan fishermen are also in Indian custody at present on similar grounds.