Chennai, Mar 7 (Reporter) Expressing deep concern over the continuing and unabated arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday evening shot off an urgent letter to External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr.S.Jaishankar urging him to use all the diplomatic routes to secure their immediate release and their boats. In a Demi-official letter to Dr Jaishankar, copies of which were released to the media here, he requested him to utilize all available diplomatic channels to ensure the prompt release of all the detained fishermen and their fishing boats currently in Sri Lankan custody and to prevent further apprehensions of TN fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. Expressing great anguish regarding yet another incident of apprehension of 14 Tamil Nadu fishermen along with their mechanised fishing boat by the Sri Lankan Navy on Thursday night, the Chief Minister said these fishermen ventured for fishing from the Rameswaram Fishing Harbour of Ramanathapuram district yesterday. This is the ninth incident of apprehension of Tamil Nadu fishermen along with their boats by the Sri Lankan Navy in the last two months of the current year 2025. "With deep concern, I would like to point out that as on date 227 Tamil Nadu fishing boats and 107 fishermen are still under the custody of Sri Lankan authorities", Mr Stalin pointed out. Noting that the Sri Lankan authorities are now detaining fishermen for longer period of time and have started imposing heavy fines for their release, the Chief Minister said beyond the hardships of imprisonment, fines, and lost income during the detention period, fishermen are now facing an even greater loss of their economic livelihoods, as the Sri Lankan Government are not returning their boats which are their sole means of economic support. "I therefore request the Union Government to take effective steps to ensure the prompt release of all the detained fishermen and their fishing boats currently in Sri Lankan custody", he added. "Additionally, I urge you to utilize all available diplomatic channels to prevent further apprehensions of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy", he said...////...