Thirty Indian fishermen detained in Sri Lanka have returned safely to India, officials said. The group included 21 men from Ramanathapuram and nine from Karaikal, hailing from Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai and Karaikal districts. They were brought back to Chennai after being released by Sri Lankan authorities.
The fishermen had gone out to sea on February 15 in two boats and were accused of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line. The Sri Lankan Navy intercepted them, seized their vessels and took the men to Sri Lanka. They were produced before a court in Mallakam and remanded to a prison in Jaffna.
Following their detention, both the Central and Tamil Nadu state governments engaged in diplomatic efforts for their release. Puducherry-based LJK leader Charles Martin also pursued legal representation for the fishermen. The Sri Lankan government released all 30 men on March 31 and handed them over to officials from the Indian High Commission in Colombo.
After undergoing medical checks and receiving emergency travel documents, the fishermen flew from Colombo to Chennai International Airport. On arrival they completed immigration and customs formalities, and Fisheries Department officials escorted them by special vehicle to their hometowns.
Sri Lankan MP Harsha de Silva commented to ANI that detentions of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities are a recurring problem closely tied to the livelihoods of coastal communities on both sides of the straits. He described the issue as complex, involving large numbers of small-scale fishers and contested practices such as bottom trawling, and said sustainable, economic solutions are required rather than purely legal remedies.
Frequent arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities remain a longstanding concern between the two countries and continue to affect fishing communities in Tamil Nadu.
