Chennai/UNI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin has urged External Affairs Minister Dr. S.Jaishankar to secure the immediate release of 23 fishermen apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy along with their five boats yesterday.

In a Demi-Official to Jaishankar, copies of which were released to the media here, he said in yet another incident, 23 fishermen from TN along with five fishing boats were apprehended by Sri Lankan Navy yesterday.

He said in this year alone, 221 Tamil Nadu fishermen were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy.

The repeated instances of arrests by the Sri Lankan navy are causing severe stress and anguish among the fishermen community in Tamil Nadu who are solely dependent on fishing, he added.

"The fragile coastal economy is facing a crisis and it needs our support", Stalin said.

"Further, as of now, 105 fishing boats of Tamil Nadu are still under the custody of Sri Lanka and due to continuous efforts, the apprehended fishermen are released but their fishing boats still remain under the Sri Lankan custody", the Chief Minister pointed out.

He urged Dr Jaishankar to take necessary diplomatic initiatives to restrain the Sri Lankan Navy from apprehending our fishermen and also enable the early release of all the fishermen and their fishing boats now under Sri Lankan custody.