Tamil Nadu thanks Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Centre for getting fishermen released

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Assembly today lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government for taking steps to secure the release of five fishermen sentenced to death in Sri Lanka.

The fishermen were arrested on November 28, 2011 for alleged drug trafficking by Sri Lanka. They were sentenced to death by a court there on October 30 this year and released on November 19 and arrived here the next day.

A resolution moved by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and adopted unanimously also reiterated its demand for release of 38 fishermen and 79 boats in Sri Lanka and retrieval of Katchatheevu, an islet ceded by India to Sri Lanka by way of two agreements in 1974 and 1976.

"Katchatheevu should be retrieved so as to ensure that Tamil Nadu fishermen eked out their livelihood without any hindrance," the resolution said.

It also urged the Centre to take all necessary steps to see that Tamil Nadu fishermen's rights to fish in their traditional regions were not infringed by Sri Lanka.