Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy has written to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging him to take diplomatic initiatives to secure the release of 11 fishermen and four mechanised fishing boats from Sri Lanka.

The boats were seized during two separate raids in the end of July.

Although one group of 11 fishermen were released in the beginning of September, the other group of 11 apprehended at Mulai Theevu remained in prison.

Following the extension of the remand of the 11 fishermen, the fishermen of Karaikal and Puducherry went on strike demanding their release, the letter said.

Meanwhile the Tamil Nadu Meenavar Peravai has urged the Central and the State governments to take immediate steps to secure the speedy release of fishermen from Nagapattinam, Karaikkal, Pudukottai and Ramanathpuram who are languishing in Sri Lankan prisons and also restore their belongings.

The Cuddalore chapter of the Peravai met recently at the port area, with its president M. Subbarayan in the chair and adopted a resolution that sought the Centre to put an end to frequent arrest and detention of Tamil Nadu fishermen in Lankan jails.

Through another resolution, the Peravai noted that since Tamil Nadu fishermen were facing threat from Sri Lankan Navy, the Centre ought to reconsider its decision to supply warships to the Mahinda Rajapaksa government, The Hindu reported.