Former MP calls for sustainable remedy to recurring fishermen arrests by Sri Lankan Navy

Former Member of Lok Sabha and founder president of the Puducherry Maanila Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (PMMMK) M. Ramadass has advocated for a long-term bilateral protocol to end the recurring arrests of Tamil fishermen by Sri Lankan authorities.

In a statement, Mr. Ramadass said while the Constitutional heads, the Lt. Governor and the Chief Minister, have been flagging these incidents and seeking release of detained fishermen through letters to the External Affairs Ministry, “what is needed is to treat the issue as a recurrent violation of human dignity, raise it as a standing agenda item in India–Sri Lanka diplomatic talks, and consider consular-level protocols”.

While appeals by the authorities often result in temporary relief after a month or two, they do not address the root of the problem. Nor are their boats released which are their sources of livelihood. “It must be recognised that treating fishermen crossing borders unknowingly and unintentionally as offenders rather than victims of an unresolved policy issue is unjust. A reactive, case-by-case approach cannot be a substitute for a permanent and humane solution”.

Mr. Ramadass stressed the urgent need for the Government of India to pursue a comprehensive and binding bilateral fisheries arrangement with Sri Lanka, incorporating clear fishing protocols, technological safeguards to prevent accidental crossings, and a humanitarian framework that avoids arrest and confiscation of livelihood assets. Such protocols should delineate clearly notified fishing corridors with GPS coordinates , seasonal access rights for small fishermen on humanitarian grounds and for first-time or accidental crossings. He also called for putting in place a joint monitoring mechanism to offset unilateral action.

Technological safeguards should fix government-subsidised GPS-logged maritime boundary alert devices in every fishing boat and a real-time warning system in Tamil. The Government of India should persuade the Sri Lankan government to create district-level fishermen coordination committees involving fishermen representatives, coast guards of both countries, and officials of the Departments of Fisheries and Local Administration. These committees should resolve incidents within 48 hours, ensure release without prosecution, and prevent an escalation to diplomatic disputes.

He pointed out that fishermen from Karaikal are repeatedly facing arrest, humiliation, and confiscation of their fishing boats by Sri Lankan authorities when they venture into the sea near the maritime boundary. They occur due to poor demarcation at sea, traditional fishing routes predating modern borders, and depletion of fish stock on the Indian side.

“The dignity, safety, and livelihood of Karaikal fishermen must be protected through diplomacy and policy, not left to repeated post-facto interventions. A permanent remedy alone can end this continuing injustice”, Mr. Ramadass said.