Three fishermen from Rameswaram arrested by Sri Lankan Navy; trawler impounded

In a fresh incident, Sri Lankan Navy personnel arrested three fishermen from Rameswaram in the early hours of Tuesday (December 30, 2025) and impounded their trawler on charges of poaching.

According to information available with officials from the Fisheries Department in Rameswaram, three men, identified as Rooban, Nagarajan, and Prabhu, ventured into the sea for fishing on Tuesday from the Rameswaram jetty. As they approached the Neduntheevu islet, a surveillance team of the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended the trio and took them to the Karai Nagar Naval Port in the island nation.

The Fisheries Department officials said that they had issued 415 tokens to fishermen on Monday (December 29), and they were expected to return to the shore on Tuesday evening.

V.P. Jesu Raja, leader of a fishermen association, condemned the arrest, stating that the persistent appeals from Tamil Nadu’s fishermen had been ignored. “Taking into account our livelihood, the governments should engage in a dialogue at the highest level with the Sri Lankan authorities and bring about a permanent solution,” he said.

In less than 15 days alone, 13 fishermen from this region were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy, with three trawlers being impounded. Sans their boats, the fishermen cannot venture into the sea. Moreover, the courts in Sri Lanka have been imposing hefty fines on the fishermen, which they are struggling to pay.

“We are undergoing severe stress, and a sense of insecurity is prevalent among the community,” Mr. Raja said, reiterating his appeal to the Union government.