Srilanka Courts Releases 69 Indian Fishermen

The Sri Lankan Government on Thursday said that it will intercede with courts for the release of Indian fishermen in remand prison as a gesture of goodwill. Followed by this position taken by the Sri lankan government,the Sri Lankan courts in Jaffna and Vavunia on Thursday (28) ordered the release of 69 Tamil Nadu fishermen lodged in prisons there, an official said.

The fishermen, arrested on various occasions on charges of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) by the Sri Lankan Navy, would be brought back home after completing necessary formalities, said Indian Fisheries Department officials. A total of 89 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have been released by Sri Lankan authorities during this year and 71 were still in various jail in Sri Lanka, he said.

The appeal for release of 44 fishermen will made before the Kayts Court, for eight fishermen before the Pointpedro Court and for another 18 before the Mannar Court. The Sri Lankan Navy apprehended these Indian fishermen in the months of October and November.