Lankan fishermen released

India handed over 21 Lankan fishermen along with four trawlers to Sri Lanka Navy in response to the goodwill gesture by Sri Lanka, last afternoon.

These will be the first batch of 93 fishermen released by the Indian authorities.

They were held by Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh States for poaching in their territorial waters, Fisheries Ministry spokesperson Dr. Narendra Rajapaksa told Sunday Observer yesterday.

The Navy spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya said the exchange took place 15 nautical miles north of Kankesanthurai near the international maritime border between the two countries.

“The fishermen were handed over by the Indian coast guards,” he said.

Altogether 93 fishermen and 20 trawlers were released by India today and they are expected to be sent home in several batches. “With the release of this lot there is just six more fishermen and a trawler in Indian custody.

They were arrested for poaching near Andaman islands. The negotiations are on to secure their release soon,” Dr. Rajapaksa said. Fisheries Ministry intends to initiate an MoU with India counterpart to overcome issues of fishermen in the future.

This will be pushed through by the foreign Ministries of the two States, the spokesperson said.