In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, she referred to two separate incidents in Rameswaram and said 13 fishermen hailing from the state had been arrested by the Lankan Navy.
"You are aware that already five Rameswaram fishermen are languishing in Sri Lankan jails due to a fabricated case since November 29, 2011. The arrest of 13 more Rameswaram fishermen with their three boats has further confirmed the unrelenting, harsh attitude of the Sri Lankan Navy towards our Tamil Nadu fishermen, who seek to eke out their livelihood by fishing in the traditional Palk Bay waters.
"I therefore, request you to kindly take up the issue with the Sri Lankan government and arrange for the immediate release of all the fishermen of Rameswaram arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy," Jayalalithaa, who had written to Singh last week over a similar issue, said.