AMN
Sri Lankan has decided to release 99 Indian fishermen who were caught by its Navy over the last two months on charges of violating the International Maritime Boundary and poaching in Sri Lankan waters.
According to an official of the Indian High Commission, release of the fishermen was secured after hectic diplomatic efforts. The fishermen will now be produced before local courts for issue of release orders. The repatriation of the fishermen will be coordinated between Sri Lanka Navy and Indian Coast Guard, and will be done later this week.
After determined efforts from the Indian High Commission over the past few weeks, Sri Lankan government has agreed to release the 99 Indian fishermen in their custody. The fishermen were allegedly caught poaching in Sri Lankan waters by the Island Navy on different occasions over the last two months.
The fishermen are likely to return home later this week after their release order is issued by local magistrates.The next round of talks between the two governments to solve the problem of fishermen trespassing into each other’s territory is likely to take place next month. During her visit to Colombo, Foreign Minister Ms Sushma Swaraj had invited Sri Lanka’s fisheries minister for talks in New Delhi.