The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa, urged the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take "decisive action" and secure the release of fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan navy, in a letter sent today, reports the PTI.

Calling for a lasting solution to the problem, Jayalalithaa said the previous administration's response to the Sri Lankan navy's continued arrests of fishermen was "meek" and had "emboldened" Sri Lanka further.

“I hope that there will now be a decisive shift in the Centre’s stance under your leadership and that India will now take necessary steps to find a lasting solution to this vexatious question,” she wrote, adding that the "resumption of abductions and detentions" by Sri Lanka came as a shock to the fishermen who had begun the fishing season on Sunday after a 45 day ban.

She further added:

“There was an expectation that, with the change of government at the Centre, there would be a reset in the relations with Sri Lanka and such attacks and apprehensions would cease."

"We hope that the firmness of India’s response would ensure that such instances do not recur hereafter.”

“This [infringement] is caused in no small measure because of India having entered into an ill-advised agreement, which ceded to Sri Lanka the islet of Katchatheevu, which was historically part of India’s territory and undisputedly an integral part of India.”

“To put an end to the systematic violence unleashed by the Sri Lankan Navy and to impress upon them that India would not tolerate brutality against our innocent fishermen, I request you to put in place a strong and robust diplomatic response and ensure that such instances do not recur hereafter.”