Sri Lankan Navy Arrests Nine Tamil Nadu Fishermen, Seizes Boats Near Kodiyakarai
Nine Mayiladuthurai fishermen were arrested near Kodiyakarai for allegedly crossing the maritime boundary, prompting Chief Minister MK Stalin to seek diplomatic intervention for their release.
Published : January 3, 2026 at 3:52 PM IST
|Updated : January 3, 2026 at 5:44 PM IST
Mayiladuthurai: The arrest of nine fishermen from Mayiladuthurai district in Tamil Nadu by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly crossing the maritime boundary has triggered anxiety among fishing communities along the state’s coast, prompting Chief Minister MK Stalin to write to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, seeking urgent diplomatic intervention for their release.
The arrested fishermen were travelling in two fibreglass boats after setting out to sea from Kodiyakarai on Friday afternoon. Ponnukutty, a resident of Perumalpettai fishing village in Tharangambadi taluk, went fishing in a fibreglass boat bearing registration number IND-TN-16-MO-519, along with Kumar, Reagan and Anburaj from Pudupettai village, and Kowsigan from Palayar.
In another fibreglass boat bearing registration number IND-TN-16-MO-2070, owned by Mubinthaas of Vanagiri village, Thangarasu, Madhan and Ramalingam from Vanagiri, and Selvaraj from Akkaraipettai, left Kodiyakarai at around 1 pm.
All nine fishermen were fishing around 9 pm near Analai Island, about 30 nautical miles southeast of Kodiyakarai, when a Sri Lankan Navy patrol intercepted them. The Navy alleged that the fishermen had crossed into Sri Lankan waters and seized both boats.
The arrested fishermen were taken to Karainagar port in Sri Lanka, where fisheries officials interrogated them. They were later produced before a court and remanded to custody.
Though the fishermen hail from the Mayiladuthurai district, it is learnt that they have been residing and working in the fishing sector in Vedaranyam and Kodiyakarai in the neighbouring Nagapattinam district.
CM Stalin Writes to External Affairs Minister
In a demi-official letter to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin urged the Union government to take up the matter through appropriate diplomatic channels to secure the immediate release of all detained fishermen along with their fishing boats and to prevent further apprehensions in the future.
Referring to the latest incident involving fishermen from Mayiladuthurai, Stalin said the continued arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen and seizure of their boats by Sri Lankan authorities were a matter of grave concern, particularly as such incidents continue to occur despite repeated representations.
He noted that, as of now, 251 fishing boats belonging to Tamil Nadu and 73 fishermen, including those apprehended in the recent incident, remain under Sri Lankan custody.
The Chief Minister said these repeated apprehensions have caused immense hardship, anxiety and distress among coastal fishing communities across the state, severely affecting their livelihoods and sense of security.
Separate Incident
In a separate statement, the Sri Lankan Navy said it arrested 11 Indian fishermen late Thursday night north of Kankesanthurai in the island nation’s northern province for allegedly fishing illegally in Sri Lankan waters. The Navy also seized their trawler.
Navy spokesperson Commander Buddhika Sampath said the fishermen ignored repeated warnings to leave the area and were being taken to the Myladi fisheries inspectorate for further legal action. The issue of fishermen arrests remains a sensitive and recurring point of contention between India and Sri Lanka, particularly in the Palk Strait.
Rameswaram Arrests Trigger Fresh Anxiety
Meanwhile, fishing communities in Rameswaram were gripped by fresh concern after the Sri Lankan Navy arrested three more Indian fishermen earlier this week and seized their mechanised trawler.
Fisheries Department officials identified the arrested fishermen as Rooban, Nagarajan and Prabhu, who had set out from the Rameswaram fishing harbour after receiving official clearance. They were intercepted near the waters off Neduntheevu (Delft Island) and taken to the Karainagar Naval Base.
Officials issued 415 fishing tokens on the day the Rameswaram fishermen departed, with most boats expected to return by Tuesday evening. However, news of the arrests that week sparked panic among families awaiting their loved ones.
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