Palaniswami asks Modi to take action to release boats from Sri Lankan custody

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take immediate diplomatic measures with the authorities in Sri Lanka and arrange for an early release of the 135 fishing boats and 11 fishermen currently in neighbouring island nation's custody.

In a letter to Modi, Palaniswami said that 135 fishing boats belonging to fishermen from Tamil Nadu, of



which 61 were apprehended in 2015, 53 were apprehended in 2016 and 21 were apprehended in 2017, continue to remain impounded in Sri Lankan custody.

Palaniswami said that Sri Lankan Government is following a deft strategy of not releasing the fishing boats thereby pushing our fishermen into a poverty stricken state, depriving them of their only means of livelihood.