On account of the Christmas and New Year festivals, 30 Sri Lankan fishermen in India and 66 Indian fishermen in Sri Lanka have been released by the respective governments, the Government Information Department said.
As a gesture of goodwill and friendship between the two countries, 30 Sri Lankan fishermen in Indian custody and 66 Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody were released yesterday (22).
They were handed over to the respective countries today (23) at the maritime boundary at Kankesanthurai.
This was announced by the Deputy Minister for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Sarath Kumara Gunarathne.
The release of these fishermen is a result of the discussions Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa had with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Nepal on 26th and 27th November 2014 at the SAARC Siummit.
The families of the Sri Lankan fishermen who were in custody in India held a protest requesting the release of these fishermen at a meeting with the Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Sarath Kumara Gunarathne.
The Ministry has already made arrangements to send the Sri Lankan fishermen to their respective homes.
