Sri Lankan Navy today arrested 16 fishermen from Tamil Nadu on charges of poaching in Sri Lankan waters near Kachatheevu islands. Before these arrests, 57 Indian fishermen were in Sri Lankan custody. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa yesterday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to intervene and secure the immediate release of the Tamil fishermen and their fishing boats apprehended by Sri Lankan Navy. Fishermen from Tamil Nadu protested by standing waist deep in Sea in Rameswaram urging the immediate release of fellow fishermen from Lankan jail. The fishermen are shocked that country boat fishermen were also apprehended by Sri Lankan Navy. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalaithaa in her letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought a lasting solution to the Tamil fishermen issue. She pointed out that traditional rights of fishing in Palk Bay is being denied for our fishermen as Sri Lankan Navy is apprehending them. Fifty seven fishermen from Tamil Nadu are languishing in Lankan jail. Sri Lanka has also impounded 98 fishing boats which are getting damaged over the time.

In Tamil Nadu, local fishermen are urging the government to secure the release of 16 Tamil fishermen apprehended by Sri Lankan Navy. The Tamil fishermen from Pudukottai-Jagadapattinam were arrested by Lankan Navy last night. There is tension in coastal districts of Tamil Nadu including Nagapattinam. Kottaipattinam and Jagadapattinam. The local fishermen say that Sri Lankan Navy attacked them when they were fishing near Kodiakarai near Indian coast. <br/><br/>Sri Lankan Navy apprehended 16 Tamil fishermen from Pudukottai Jagadapattinam when they were fishing near international maritime boundary line and also detained their three fishing boats. Sri Lanka has made it a policy to release the Tamil fishermen arrested by Lankan Navy without much delay but detain their fishing boats as a deterrent measure.<br/><br/> Tamil Nadu fishermen are urging the government to ensure the immediate release of fellow fishermen arrested by Lankan Navy. They also want the government to take steps for the release of 27 fishing boats detained by Sri Lanka as their livelihood is badly affected.

Sri Lankan navy have arrested 16 Tamil fishermen from Pudukottai-Jagadapattinam Tamil Nadu last night on charges of violating the International Maritime Boundary Line . The Lankan Navy had taken the Tamil fishermen and their three fishing boats to Kankesanthurai. Fishermen's Association President S Emiret said the fishermen were fishing in Indian waters off Kodiakarai coast.