Lanka releases 126 Indian fishermen

As many as 126 Indian fishermen, arrested on the charge of poaching in Sri Lankan waters, were on Friday repatriated by Indian Coast Guard after being released by the neighbouring island nation government.

Despite inclement weather, the fishermen from Tamil Nadu were swiftly repatriated from two locations on International Maritime Boundary Line onboard two ships and later handed over to state authorities, a Coast Guard release said in Chennai.

It said the fishermen, detained by Lankan Navy in batches in the recent past, were healthy and all assistance was provided to them. A report from Rameswaram said a total of 48 fishermen belonging to the island reached the shore around 6 pm and were accorded a warm reception by their family members.

The 78 other fishermen hailing from Nagapattinam and Pudukottai distrcits were sent in a ship to Karaikal, near Nagapattinam, it said quoting Fisheries department officials.

Earlier in Colombo, Navy spokesman Akram Alavi said 78 of the fishermen were handed over to Indian coast Guard vessels ‘Sagar’ ‘Raj Kamal’ off Kankesanthurai and Talaimamnar respectively.