India and Sri Lanka are in discussions to release all fishermen in each other’s custody. Official sources said formal orders in this regard are likely to be issued in a couple of days. The decision comes as there are protests in Tamil Nadu over the killing of a fisherman in alleged firing by Sri Lankan Navy on Monday.
There are 85 Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan prisons, while 19 fishermen from Sri Lanka are in the Indian custody, mainly on charges of poaching into each other’s waters.
The Indian fishermen, mainly from Tamil Nadu, have been arrested by Sri Lankan navy on regular basis. They are released from time to time on humanitarian grounds but their boats are not released.
Both countries are engaged in high-level talks to resolve the longstanding issue.
A ministerial meeting held in Colombo in January had decided to follow Standard Operating Procedure for dealing with fishermen.