Tamil Nadu Fishermen Protest Detention of 61 Fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy

13-Aug-2025

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Sixty-one fishermen from Ramanathapuram district in Tamil Nadu, India, were arrested and detained by the Sri Lankan Navy during the 55-day fishing period after the Tamil Nadu government’s fishing ban ended.

In protest, Ramanathapuram’s fishing boat fishermen have decided to launch a continuous strike starting from August 11.

At a media briefing on August 10, the leader of Ramanathapuram fishing boat fishermen said that if the release of fishermen in custody is further delayed, they will hold a hunger strike on 15-08-2025 and a railway blockade protest on August 19.

The strike has already caused about 600 fishing boats to remain anchored in Ramanathapuram, affecting foreign exchange trade by up to one crore rupees daily.

They demand immediate release of the detained fishermen, a halt to continuous arrests, and that both governments take proper measures to allow fishermen to fish peacefully.