Colombo: Sri Lanka today began the process to release 120 Indian fishermen detained for allegedly fishing in its waters and India will also free dozens of Lankan fishermen as humanitarian gesture, an official said in Colombo.
"The process to release the detained Indian fishermen 0began today," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mahishini Colonne told reporters.
She said there were 120 Indian fishermen under Lankan custody and all of them "will be released in the next few days."
"This is pure humanitarian action," Colonne said. She also said that India will also release the 36 Lankan fishermen held in that country.
She did not clarify whether the total fishermen included the 34 Indians held by Lanka on Monday night off the northern coast. They had been ordered to be remanded until the first week of November by two magistrates.
The problem of poaching by each other's fishermen have been recurring despite some top level engagements between the two countries since the beginning of 2014.
"The process to release the detained Indian fishermen 0began today," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mahishini Colonne told reporters.
She said there were 120 Indian fishermen under Lankan custody and all of them "will be released in the next few days."
She did not clarify whether the total fishermen included the 34 Indians held by Lanka on Monday night off the northern coast. They had been ordered to be remanded until the first week of November by two magistrates.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
India Squad Selection vs Sri Lanka: Team Selection Meeting Rescheduled For This Day, Says Report Details Of India Coach Gautam Gambhir's 1st Meeting With BCCI Selectors: "Robust Exchange Of..." Virat Kohli On Holiday, Rohit Sharma Could Take 'Selfless Decision' For SL ODIs: Report Amid Huge Row, Karnataka Pauses Bill For Reservation In Private Sector Firms Travel Influencer Aanvi Kamdar Dies After Falling Off A Waterfall Near Mumbai UP Banker Dies By Suicide After 6 Months Of Bullying, Body-Shaming Major Crackdown Launched On Terror Network In J&K After Doda Encounter UK's New Government Vows To Remove 92 Unelected Peers From Upper House EU's Carbon Tax Could Cost India 0.05% Of GDP: Report Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.