Manavai Asokan

30/6/09 ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Meeting between Hon. M. Karunanidhi, Chief Minister of Tamilnadu and Hon. Mr. Arumugam Thondaman, Minister of Youth Empowerment and Socio Economic Development, Sri Lanka and President, Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) held on 30th June 2009

Hon. Arumugam Thondaman, Minister of Youth Empowerment and Socio Economic Development, Sri Lanka, met Hon. M. Karunanidhi, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and Mrs. Kanimozhi, MP today (30.06.2009) at the Hon. Chief Minister’s Residence in Chennai. Mr. M. Manimuthu, Vice President of Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) was also present during this meeting.

During this meeting, the Sri Lankan Minister has requested the Hon. Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to take action to secure the release of 107 Sri Lankan fishermen and 21 Sri Lankan fishing boats, taken into custody by the Indian Naval Authorities recently.

Several other issues like the ground reality in Sri Lanka, the composition of the delegation which will be visiting Sri Lanka from Tamil Nadu and the details of the monetary aid given by India to Sri Lanka. The two leaders have also discussed about the welfare of the Sri Lankan-based Indian Origin Tamils and the arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan naval authorities.

The Hon. Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has also enquired with the Sri Lankan Minister about the IDPs kept at the camps in Sri Lanka.

The names of boats seized by the Indian Authorities are as follows:-

01. Samuditha, 10. Laksiri
02. Maduranga 11. Kapila
03. Nadeel 12. Sanjeewa
04. Jayasikuru 13. Piyankara
05. Roshan Putha 14. Chandrika
06. Neuro-02 15. Manoj Putha
07. Jeyasuru 16. Lakshini
08. Namal 17. Duwa Vismi
09. Judegaya

All the 107 Sri Lankan fishermen are currently lodged at the Puzhal Central Prison near Chennai. This matter has already been discussed by Hon. Thondaman with HE. Mr. C. R. Jayasinghe, High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Delhi and with the officials of the Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in Chennai as well.