On May 14, 2026, Sri Lanka's Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to impose a ban on bottom trawling, a fishing method that has been illegal in Sri Lanka since 2017. This request comes amid a longstanding fisheries conflict in the Palk Strait, which affects fishermen from both Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu. During a press conference in Kilinochchi, Chandrasekar expressed his willingness to engage in discussions to resolve the ongoing tensions. He congratulated Vijay on his recent electoral victory, noting the public's desire for change and urging him to address critical issues that matter to the electorate. The Minister also referred to the recent arrests of six Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, asserting that these detentions are necessary to protect marine resources from illegal fishing practices. He highlighted that around 25% of the population in northern Sri Lanka depends on fisheries for their livelihoods and called on Vijay to identify and regulate those involved in bottom trawling. In 2026 alone, the Sri Lankan Navy reported the arrest of 346 Indian fishermen for illegal fishing activities.