Sri Lanka orders release of 16 Indian fishermen; process on to secure release of others

Colombo, December 16: Sri Lankan government has ordered release of 16 Indian fishermen from custody while process is on to release 144 others. Sri Lankan government has been releasing fishermen on humanitarian grounds but their boats are retained for longer period.

Indian High commission in Colombo had initiated diplomatic procedure to secure release of the fishermen few weeks back which has materialized now. The fishermen are likely to be handed over to Indian consulate in Jaffna to be followed by their repatriation next week.

Legal procedure is on to get rest of the 160 fishermen released from Sri Lankan custody, at the earliest. The release comes few months after more than 70 fishermen were released in July end.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Navy has arrested 27 Indian fishermen and seized five trawlers on Tuesday for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and fishing in Sri Lankan territorial waters.

According to a PTI report, the Sri Lankan Navy personnel arrested the fishermen from Jegadapattinam and Kottaipattinam in Pudukkottai district along with five boats while fishing in the seas off Delft Island of Jaffna.

The fishermen have been taken to Kankasanthurai port there along with the five boats, Assistant Director of Fisheries department, Pudukkottai, Kumaresan said.