Following their arrest by the Sri Lankan Navy in January, nineteen fishermen from Tamil Nadu have left the island nation and are en route to Chennai.

“19 Indian fishermen have been repatriated from Sri Lanka and are currently on their way to Chennai,” the Indian embassy in Sri Lanka announced on X.

Nineteen fisherman from Tamil Nadu were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy on March 6 for violating the border, and earlier this week, they were flown to Chennai aboard an Air India passenger flight from Colombo.

Nine of the 19 fisherman were from Mayiladuthurai, four were from Pudukottai, and six were from Karaikal in the state of Puducherry. On March, they all went fishing in the ocean on two boats.

This episode occurred in the wake of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s announcement that, over the previous 20 years, Sri Lanka had arrested, detained, or seized 6184 Indian fishermen and 1175 Indian fishing vessels.

“Various parties in the Parliament have brought up the Fisherman’s issue and the Katchatheevu issue on multiple occasions during the previous five years. It has been discussed in the consultative committee, in parliament, and in questions and debates,” he continued.

In addition to highlighting the issue’s importance, EAM Jaishankar stated that the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has received his responses to his 21 replies, and the matter has also been discussed in the legislature.