Rameswaram fishermen leave for Sri Lanka to assess condition of boats released by Sri Lankan courts

A group of 14 fishermen from Rameswaram departed in a trawler from the Rameswaram jetty on Monday (August 25, 2025) morning to Sri Lanka to assess the condition of seized boats that were ordered to be released by Sri Lankan courts. 

According to the Fisheries Department, in 2021-22, the Sri Lankan Navy seized several Indian boats for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).  

The boat owners had filed cases in Sri Lankan courts to have them released. The judiciary has now ruled in favour of the fishermen, ordering the release of 12 boats, sources added.  

The boat owners sought permission from the Sri Lankan government to retrieve their boats and bring them back to Rameswaram, said Jesu Raja, a fishermen association leader. 

Following the grant of the permission, a team of fishermen departed from the Rameswaram fishing harbour to assess the condition of the 12 boats docked at the Myliddy harbour in Sri Lanka, he added.

Sources said the Sri Lankan Navy would escort the fishermen from the IMBL to the Myliddy harbour in Jaffna.  

Among those who left for Sri Lanka are trawler owners R. Hariharan, V. Vinaltan, J. Michael Raj, D. Charles, A. Irudaya Raj, N. Dakshinamoorthy, and L. Velmurugan; and boat crew members B. Jesu Raja, B. Vinnarasan, J. Alex Daniel, A. Thibision, C. Satheesh, S. Naganathan, and S. Ramanathan.