15 Tamil Nadu fishermen released from Sri Lankan prison

Fifteen fishermen from Tamil Nadu, arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy for crossing the maritime border, have been released from a Sri Lankan prison and flown back to Chennai.

Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department officials warmly welcomed them at the airport and arranged transportation to their hometowns, following efforts by Indian authorities for their release.

15 fishermen from Ramanathapuram and Nagapattinam districts in Tamil Nadu, who were recently released from a Sri Lankan prison, arrived in Chennai by flight on Wednesday night. Officials from the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department received them at the Chennai airport and arranged transportation to their respective hometowns in government-provided vehicles.

The fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on charges of crossing the maritime border to fish, with detentions taking place on August 27 and November 11. They were subsequently lodged in Sri Lankan prisons.
Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin had earlier written to Union External Affairs minister S. Jaishankar, urging the central government to secure the release of the fishermen. Acting on this, Indian embassy officials in Sri Lanka engaged in discussions with Sri Lankan authorities to facilitate their release.
Following these efforts, the Sri Lankan court ordered the release of the 15 fishermen and handed them over to Indian embassy officials. The embassy provided them with emergency certificates and flight tickets, ensuring their safe return to India.

The fishermen were flown to Chennai aboard an Air India flight from Colombo. Upon their arrival, officials from the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department warmly welcomed them and made arrangements for their onward journey to Ramanathapuram and Nagapattinam.

Their safe return marks the culmination of coordinated diplomatic efforts between the Indian government and the Sri Lankan authorities.