CHENNAI: Fisheries and Finance Minister D Jayakumar on Friday promised the State Assembly that the government would continue to take steps to secure the release of 11 fishermen and 135 fishing boats from Sri Lanka.
Responding to an issue raised by DMK MLA KPP Samy and J G Prince (Congress), the minister said that CM Palaniswami had been constantly exerting pressure on the Centre for getting the release of fishermen and the boats.
“So far, 2,490 fishermen had been released following steps taken by the late Chief Minister and the present government. Similarly, 358 mechanised boats had also been brought back. When some of them were damaged beyond repair, the late CM had extended assistance of D5 lakh each for buying new boats,” he said.