Five fishermen from Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu were on Sunday arrested by Sri Lankan naval personnel off Nedunthivu in the island nation for allegedly fishing in their territorial waters.

The Lankan personnel damaged their fishing nets and also took away GPS equipment, Fishermen's Association President S Emiret said.

He told reporters that the fishermen were taken early Sunday morning to Kankesanthurai and would later be taken to Jaffna, to be produced at a court there.

About 2,500 fishermen had put out to sea in 619 boats on Saturday, he said, adding the arrested fishermen were among them.

Condemning the arrest of fishermen, PMK chief Ramadoss alleged that Chief Minister Jayalalaithaa has not shown "true concern" in finding a solution to their problems.

Stating that Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK's support was needed for the Centre on several matters, he added that political pressure should be exerted on the Union government to find a permanent solution to the issue.

"The Centre should take steps for the release of a total of 34 fishermen and their 95 boats," he said in a statement.

Ramadoss said the Union government must view those arrested as "Indian fishermen" and not "Tamil Nadu fishermen."