A Sri Lankan court on Monday ordered the release of 19 fishermen, including 16 from Ramanathapuram and three from Pudukottai district.
The fishermen associations had planned to hold demonstrations in Rameswaram and other parts of the district on April 19 to draw the attention of the central government to the issue and ensure the release of the fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy. The waters of the island nation while fishing in the Palk Strait.
According to fisherman leader Jesu Raja, on March 29 and April 3, 16 fishermen from Rameswaram, Thangachimadam and other parts of Ramanathapuram district were arrested near Neduntheevu by Sri Lankan marines, who also confiscated their mechanized boats. Similarly, on March 31, three fishermen from Pudukottai district were apprehended. After being tested for COVID-19, he was sent to jail in Sri Lanka. He said that when the matter came up for hearing, the court freed him, after which the authorities released him from jail.
Mr Jesu Raja said that the central government should ensure that 16 more fishermen from Tamil Nadu, who were lodged in Sri Lankan jails and their mechanized boats, were released soon as the economic crisis continued to escalate in the island nation. , said Mr. Jesu Raja.
The release of fishermen from Sri Lankan prisons will help family members stay together, with an annual 61-day ban on fishing tackle three days earlier.
Expressing relief and happiness over reports of 19 fishermen being released, Antony, another fisherman leader in Thangachimadam, said that the Sri Lankan government should instruct its officials to release the seized boats as each cost around ₹20 lakh to ₹. is around 50 lakhs. At least 50 fishermen depended on each boat for their livelihood. They claimed that no purpose was served by anchoring them in their waters.
The fishermen’s associations submitted a petition to Ramanathapuram Collector Shankar Lal Kumawat at the weekly grievance meeting, demanding steps to be taken to release the remaining fishermen from Sri Lankan jails as well. The Collector assured them to take it up with the appropriate officers in the state government.
A senior official of the fisheries department told Hindu That the Sri Lankan authorities would hand over the 19 released fishermen to the Indian authorities and then they would make arrangements for their return home.