After 12 fishermen from Tamil Nadu were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy on Thursday, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting the latter to secure the release of all fishermen numbering 28 and their fishing boats from Sri Lankan custody, according to a news report published by The Hindu on Friday.

Stalin has, in his letter, said it is disheartening to note that the fishermen are facing harassment at the hands of the Sri Lankan Navy frequently. “The arrests continue despite several letters of protest by the Tamil Nadu government highlighting the escalation in the arrests of fishermen.”

The arrests and violent attacks on Indian fishermen took place unabated despite the diplomatic initiatives from the Government of India, Stalin has contended. The repeated attempts by the Sri Lankan Navy in the Palk Bay must be permanently ended through concerted efforts by the Government of India, he said.

“I consider that a concrete and time-bound plan may be drawn up in this regard urgently. The continuing incidents of incarceration of the fishermen and their boats have created a deep sense of despondency among the fishermen community as fishing is their only means of livelihood,” Stalin said.

As on March 23, 104 fishing boats from Tamil Nadu were in the custody of Sri Lanka and five fishing boats that were released by Sri Lanka were yet to be repatriated to India. A total of 16 Indian fishermen were in Sri Lankan prisons.

Under these circumstances, he sought the PM’s personal intervention and direct the authorities concerned to take effective steps to secure the release of all the 28 fishermen and their fishing boats that have been apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Continuing his efforts to promote dialogue with Heads of Mission of Islamic countries concurrently accredited to Sri Lanka from New Delhi, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India Milinda Moragoda Tuesday presented a copy of the Sinhala translation of the Holy Quran to the Ambassador of Bahrain to India Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed AlGaoud on Tuesday, the Colombo foreign office said.In February Moragoda had presented copies of the Quran to the Ambassador of Morocco in India.

This Sinhala translation published by the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) of Sri Lanka, was presented to the Bahraini Ambassador at the Embassy of Bahrain in New Delhi.

Previously, the High Commission had presented copies of the Sinhala Quran to the Jama Masjid of Delhi and the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (Council of Muslim Theologians of India).

In keeping with the “Integrated Country Strategy for Sri Lanka Diplomatic Missions in India”, the policy roadmap of High Commissioner Moragoda, the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi has been promoting dialogue with all major religions in India.

Apropos Priest arrested over rape allegation published on page 3 of The Island, March 22, 2023 edition, Father P. Josephdas Jebaratnam, Vicar General, Diocese of Jaffna, has informed us that the Catholic Church inquired about the report and received assurance from relevant authorities that such arrest was not made. The Vicar General said that there was no basis for the claim that the Special Task Force arrested the priest hiding in a farm in Nagarkovil, Jaffna.

News Editor: The error is regretted.