Lok Sabha Question No. 4809 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-28
Subject: Arrest of Tamil Nadu Fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Smt. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-4809

## ANSWERED ON- 28/03/2025

## ARREST OF TAMIL NADU FISHERMAN BY THE SRI LANKAN NAVY

## 4809 SMT. KANIMOZHI KARUNANIDHI

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a) the details regarding the number of fishermen from Tamil Nadu who were arrested, attacked and their boats confiscated by the Sri Lankan Navy during the last ten years;

(b) the details regarding the number of fishermen and boats still under the custody of the Sri Lankan authorities;

(c) the details regarding the measures taken by the Ministry to arrange a meeting between the representatives of the fishermen association in India and Sri Lanka as requested in the 6th meeting of the Joint Working Group on Fisheries;

(d) the scheduled time-frame for the next meeting of the Joint Working Group on Fisheries; and

(e) the details regarding the meeting of the Joint Working Group on Fisheries conducted so far and the reasons for the delay in scheduling regular meetings for the same?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) Indian fishermen are arrested from time to time by Sri Lankan authorities for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and fishing in Sri Lankan waters.  The IMBL was agreed upon between the Governments of India and Sri Lanka in 1974.   The thenState   Government   of   Tamil   Nadu   was   consulted   by   the   Union Government before its finalization.  Another agreement in 1976, through a formal exchange of letters by the then-Union Government and its Sri Lankan counterpart, stipulated that the fishing vessels and fishermen of India shall not engage in fishing in the historic waters, the territorial sea and the exclusive zone of Sri Lanka.

## Details in respect of fishermen and boats from Tamil Nadu apprehended by Sri Lankan authorities since 2015 is as below:

| Year   |   No. of Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested by SL authorities | No. of Tamil Nadu fishermen allegedly attacked in SL waters   |   No. of boats from Tamil Nadu confiscated by SL authorities |
|--------|----------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2025*  |                                                      135 | 02                                                            |                                                           18 |
| 2024   |                                                      526 | 20                                                            |                                                           72 |
| 2023   |                                                      220 | 28                                                            |                                                           33 |
| 2022   |                                                      229 | 10                                                            |                                                           31 |
| 2021   |                                                      143 | 7                                                             |                                                           20 |
| 2020   |                                                       74 | 3                                                             |                                                           11 |
| 2019   |                                                      190 | 15                                                            |                                                           39 |
| 2018   |                                                      156 | Nil                                                           |                                                           26 |
| 2017   |                                                      453 | 02                                                            |                                                           82 |
| 2016   |                                                      290 | 01                                                            |                                                           51 |
| 2015   |                                                      454 | 16                                                            |                                                           71 |

Details of Indian fishermen and boats released as a result of the Government of India's diplomatic efforts are as below:

|   Year | No. of Indian fishermen released and repatriated by SL authorities   | No. of boats released by SL authorities   |
|--------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
|   2025 | 80 (another 6 fishermen completing formalities before repatriation)  | 01                                        |
|   2024 | 535                                                                  | 12                                        |
|   2023 | 240                                                                  | 14                                        |
|   2022 | 268                                                                  | 01                                        |
|   2021 | 159                                                                  | 06                                        |
|   2020 | 74                                                                   | Nil                                       |
|   2019 | 210                                                                  | 02                                        |
|   2018 | 156                                                                  | 178                                       |
|   2017 | 453                                                                  | 42                                        |
|   2016 | 290                                                                  | 03                                        |
|   2015 | 454                                                                  | 87                                        |

(b) As of 22 March 2025, 86 Indian fishermen (03 of whom are awaiting trial and 83 serving prison sentences) and 225 boats are in Sri Lankan custody.

(c)   to   (e)   Government   of   India   attaches   highest   priority   to   the safety, security and welfare of Indian fishermen. The Government has been consistently taking up the issue of the early release and repatriation of  Indian fishermen and fishing boats with the Sri

Lankan   Government   through   bilateral   mechanisms,   diplomatic channels, and various official interactions, including by the Prime Minister in his recent meeting with the Sri Lankan President (16 December 2024). In all interactions, it has been conveyed to the Sri Lankan authorities that this issue may be considered purely on humanitarian and livelihood grounds.

In addition, all issues related to fishermen are dealt with through bilateral institutional mechanisms, viz., Joint Working Group (JWG) on   Fisheries,   which   also   includes   representatives   from   the Government of Tamil Nadu. The last JWG meeting was held on 29 October   2024.   Government   is   also   following   up   with   the Government of Sri Lanka on early scheduling of   talks between fishermen associations of the two countries. Dates are awaited from the Sri Lankan side. Details of the JWG meetings held so far are placed below:

| JWG meeting on fisheries         | Dates                       |
|----------------------------------|-----------------------------|
| 1 st meeting of JWG on fisheries | 31 December 2016, New Delhi |
| 2 nd meeting of JWG on fisheries | 07 April 2017, Colombo      |

| 3 rd meeting of JWG on fisheries   | 13 October 2017, New Delhi    |
|------------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| 4 th meeting of JWG on fisheries   | 30 December 2020, (Virtual    |
| 5 th meeting of JWG on fisheries   | 25 March 2022, (Virtual Mode) |
| 6 th meeting of JWG on fisheries   | 29 October 2024, Colombo      |

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