14 Tamil Nadu Fishermen Held by Sri Lankan Navy After Boat Drifts Across IMBL

Rameswaram: The Sri Lankan Navy detained 14 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu in the early hours of Monday after their mechanised boat inadvertently crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in the Palk Strait due to engine failure.

The crew had departed from Tharangambadi (Mayiladuthurai district) on the evening of November 8 aboard a Vanagiri-registered vessel for routine deep-sea fishing. A mid-voyage mechanical breakdown reportedly caused the boat to drift into Sri Lankan waters near Point Pedro.

Patrolling Sri Lankan naval personnel intercepted the vessel around 3 AM, arrested all 14 fishermen, and confiscated the boat. The group was taken to Kankesanthurai Naval Base in Jaffna for interrogation.

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“This was an accidental crossing caused by technical failure, not deliberate poaching,” stressed K Muthu, president of the Tamil Nadu Mechanised Boat Fishermen’s Association. He urged immediate diplomatic intervention for their release.

Fishermen's bodies in Mayiladuthurai and Nagapattinam have condemned the recurring arrests, calling for a permanent bilateral solution to the long-standing Palk Bay fishing dispute.

Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department has notified the Indian High Commission in Colombo that identity verification and consular access can be arranged.

A detailed report is being sent to the Ministry of External Affairs seeking release on humanitarian grounds.

Such detentions, often during peak fishing seasons, continue to strain  India-Sri Lanka ties, despite multiple rounds of talks aimed at resolving the issue.