Fifty-two Sri Lankan fishermen who were in Indian custody reached the Kankesanturai (KKS) Harbour today while 51 Indian fishermen arrested for venturing into Sri Lankan waters were handed over to India, the Navy spokesman said.
The mid-sea exchange of arrested fishermen by Indian and Sri Lankan authorities at the international maritime boundary line comes after an agreement to release all fishermen detained in prisons in both countries.
A decision was made at the Indo-Lanka meeting yesterday (January 15) to release all the fishermen in custody in both countries, Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne had said.
The fishermen from Tamil Nadu, released from Lankan jails, belong to Nagapattinam, Pudukottai and other parts of the state. While 20 of them were released from Mallakam prison, 32 were set free from Trincomalee prison.
In Chennai, 52 Sri Lankan fishermen boarded the Indian Coast Guard ship ‘Vishwast’ on Wednesday evening, comprising the first group heading home after being released from Indian prisons as part of the exchange deal.
The released Sri Lankan fishermen belong to Trincomalee and Matara and were caught between June and August.
Over 200 Indian fishermen remain in Sri Lanka’s custody while more than 150 Lankan fishermen are being held by India.
