A group of 25 Indian fishermen, who were repatriated from Sri Lanka, arrived at Chennai International Airport on Thursday.
Visuals captured their arrival at the airport before they were sent to their respective homes.
The fishermen had been detained by the Sri Lankan Navy for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) but were later released from prison.
On February 23, fishermen in Rameswaram launched an indefinite strike, demanding the release of all detained fishermen and boats, according to the fishermen’s association.
A total of 32 fishermen were arrested on February 23, and their boats were confiscated by Sri Lankan authorities.
Since January last year, the Sri Lankan Navy has seized 18 boats and detained 131 fishermen from Tamil Nadu.
The fishermen’s association held an emergency meeting near the Rameswaram fishing port on Monday.
On February 23, 440 boats ventured into the sea from Rameswaram. While fishing in the Palk Bay, Sri Lankan naval personnel arrived in a patrol boat, seized five fishing vessels, and detained 32 fishermen, claiming they had crossed the maritime border.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin voiced concerns over the rising incidents of Indian fishermen being captured by the Sri Lankan Navy. He urged the central government to convene a Joint Working Group (JWG) to establish a long-term resolution to the issue.
Addressing the recent arrest of 32 fishermen, Stalin wrote to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, emphasizing that the JWG could facilitate the safe release of all detained fishermen and their boats.
These fishermen had set out for fishing from Rameswaram harbour on February 22.
The Tamil Nadu CM highlighted that despite repeated appeals to the Sri Lankan government, the arrests of fishermen from the state continue to rise. He also noted that in 2025 alone, fishermen have been detained in eight separate incidents.
