Twenty-four Indian fishermen, detained by the Sri Lankan navy, have been returned to India. The Indian High Commission in Colombo confirmed that all fishermen departed from Colombo and are en route to their homes. This recent repatriation is the third instance of Indian fishermen being released by Sri Lanka in April alone. Previously, on April 24, five fishermen were freed and sent back to India. Prior to that, on April 3, Sri Lankan authorities repatriated 19 other Indian fishermen.
The persistent problem of fishermen encroaching into each other’s territorial waters has been a source of dispute between the neighboring nations. Numerous instances have occurred where Sri Lankan Navy personnel have reportedly fired at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seized their boats on suspicion of illegal entry into Sri Lankan waters. The Palk Strait, situated between the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, is a fertile fishing ground for both countries’ fishermen. However, frequent arrests and clashes arise due to fishermen frequently crossing maritime boundaries.
Reports indicate that in 2024, the Sri Lankan Navy has detained 178 Indian fishermen and held 23 Indian trawlers for allegedly fishing in Sri Lankan waters. Similarly, in 2023, the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended 240 Indian fishermen along with 35 trawlers for the same offense. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed concern over the detention of Indian fishermen and wrote a letter to the Prime Minister about it in February of this year. “I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the alarming increase in incidents of apprehension of Tamil fishermen and their boats by the Sri Lankan authorities”, stated Stalin.
Furthermore, he called upon the PM to revive the Joint Action Group to address these concerns.