As per reports, members of the Fishermen Association of Tamil Nadu and other groups of fishermen in Puducherry staged protests on Saturday (16 March) against the Sri Lankan Navy for arresting 12 fishermen from Puducherry and three from Tamil Nadu and impounding the boats.

The protests included the blocking of the Nagapattinam road, and a demonstration at Myladuthurai. In Puducherry, a protest was reported on a major road. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has written to External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar seeking his intervention for the release of the fishermen.