Chennai: In the wake of arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking laying down a time-bound action plan to achieve a “long-term, permanent solution to the problem and also to put in place a strong and robust diplomatic response”.
In her letter to Modi, Jayalalithaa cited the arrest of 82 fishermen by Lankan Navy yesterday in two separate incidents and said, “As an immediate measure, I request you to kindly ensure that India registers the strongest disapproval of the belligerent actions of the Sri Lankan Navy.”
Requesting that the issue be raised with the highest level on the Sri Lankan side to secure the fishermen's release, she said, “I am confident that with the Government of India and the Government of Tamil Nadu acting in concert, it would be possible to achieve a permanent solution to this vexatious issue.”
There have been 77 incidents of apprehension and 67 incidents of harassment of and attacks on Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy in the last three years, causing tremendous agitation amongst the fishermen community in Tamil Nadu, she said.
