As many as 51 Indian fishermen were released by the Sri Lankan government, said reports on Thursday. They were arrested by Sri Lanka’s Navy for “illegally” poaching in the country’s waters.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa had ordered the release of the fishermen as a goodwill gesture ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony which was attended by him in New Delhi on May 26.
Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted, 51 Indian fishermen released from custody left from Thalaimanar in Sri Lanka for home.
Earlier, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa wrote to Modi on the fishermen and demanded a permanent solution to the problem and also to put in place a strong and robust diplomatic response.
