The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, O Panneerselvam, expressed disappointment that the Sri Lankan government had failed to hand over the fishing boats of Tamil Nadu fishermen, and called on the Indian Prime Minister to ensure the boats were delivered before Christmas.
"It only confirmed what AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa had always maintained -- that the government of Sri Lanka was pursuing a sinister strategy of depriving fisher families in Tamil Nadu of their source of livelihood," Panneerselvam wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Times of India reported.
"We expect that the Union government will ensure that the 66 fishermen from Tamil Nadu in Sri Lankan custody will also return home well in time for Christmas," he added.
On Tuesday, he said that the Tamil Nadu government would release 30 fishermen who are Sri Lankan citizens, who have been detained, along with their 19 boats.
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