Advised by the External Affairs Ministry of India over the issue of retrieving boats of the State’s fishermen from the Sri Lankan authorities, the Tamil Nadu government has approached the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Y. K. Sinha, to pursue the matter and ensure the early release of the boats, The Hindu reported.

In a letter, S. Vijayakumar, secretary of the Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Department, referred to reports that the boats, which had been berthed precariously in Sri Lanka, had suffered “great damage.” There was an “urgent need” for the expeditious return of the boats, he added.

Referring to the Ministry’s suggestion that owners of the boats file applications with the Sri Lankan authorities for the release, Dr Vijayakumar also requested Mr Sinha to clarify the procedure by which the owners could get back the boats.

During the administration of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, fishermen who were arrested by Sri Lanka Navy for allegedly violating the maritime boundary were released but their boats were kept in Sri Lanka.

(with inputs from The Hindu)