Will go to Sri Lanka and surrender to survive,earn peaceful livelihood: Fishermen

RAMESWARAM: Fed up with frequent arrests and 'harassment' by Sri Lankan naval personnel, fishermen from this coastal town today said they would proceed to the island nation with their families on August 2 and surrender to officials there "to at least survive and earn their livelihood peacefully."

Speaking to reporters here, S Emerit and T Sesuraja, leaders of Fishermen's Association, said the fishermen planned to meet the District Collector on July 28 and hand over the licenses and documents of the boats.

They would go to Sri Lanka on Aug 2 with their families on boats carrying white flags, surrender to officials in the island nation so that they would at least be able to survive there and earn their livelihood peacefully.

The two leaders were speaking after inaugurating an indefinite stir by fishermen of Ramanathapuram and Pudukottai districts against the frequent arrests and 'harassment' by Sri Lankan naval personnel.

The protestors also demanded the release of the 38 fishermen arrested on July 22 and release of their boats.