Based on the assurance given by Fisheries Minister A. Srinath to representatives of all Rameswaram Mechanised Boat Fishermen’s Associations that the fishermen’s demands would be fulfilled, they have withdrawn their continuous strike and will go out to sea on Saturday.
A mechanised boat belonging to Edin Broker, which set sail from the Rameswaram fishing harbour on October 3, was seized by the Sri Lankan Navy, and the nine fishermen on board—Episton, Mathiya, John Jayson, Stevenson, Subartan, Abiston, Mobis, Antony Pradeep, and Antony Brutus—were arrested and imprisoned in Sri Lankan prison.
Consequently, emphasising demands such as the release of the fishermen and boats captured by the Sri Lankan Navy and the conduct of bilateral talks between Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen, Rameswaram fishermen started a strike last Monday and engaged in it for the fifth consecutive day on Friday.
Meanwhile, a consultative meeting of mechanised boat fishermen was held today on Friday at the Rameswaram under the leadership of fishermen’s representative Jesu Raja.
In this meeting, it was noted that Rameswaram mechanised boat fishermen association representatives had met Fisheries Minister on Thursday. Based on the Minister’s assurance during the meeting that the fishermen’s demands would be fulfilled, the Rameswaram mechanised boat fishermen announced the withdrawal of their continuous strike and decided to go to sea starting Saturday.
Published - October 09, 2026 08:18 pm IST