In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister said it was unfortunate that the incident had taken place immediately after the third round of fishermen level talks which were recently held at Chennai on March 24 which went "on smoothly and in a conducive atmosphere."

"At a time when we were hopeful that a pragmatic and permanent solution to this issue would emerge as a result of the fishermen level talks, it is disconcerting to read media reports, quoting senior Sri Lankan leaders, stating inter alia that the Sri Lankan Navy would be directed to apprehend Indian fishermen fishing in their traditional fishing waters of the Palk Bay," he said.

"We are concerned that this most recent act of the Sri Lankan Navy will be seen in the light of these statements and will again heighten the anxiety and unrest in the minds of our fishermen and vitiate the atmosphere of goodwill which was generated as a result of the fishermen level talks," he said.

The statements and the recent incident yet again highlight the importance of retrieving Katchatheevu islet and abrogation of the 1974 and 1976 agreements thereby restoring the traditional and historical fishing grounds of the Palk Bay to the Tamil Nadu fishermen, he said.

Early action on permanent solution for the Katchatheevu problem and long term diversification measures must be initiated, he said.

The Chief Minister requested that this latest incident of apprehension of Tamil Nadu fishermen be taken up at the highest diplomatic level to secure immediate release of the 37 fishermen and 18 boats in Sri Lankan custody, including the five mechanised boats seized on Friday.