Released fishermen arrive from India

The first batch of Sri Lankan fishermen released by the Indian Coast Guard sailed home on Friday.

A group of five fishermen who were held in Chennai have left in their own boat, which was also released by the Indian authorities after they were granted amnesty last week.

Of the 149 fishermen, 65 were held in Andra Pradesh, 64 in Chennai and 20 in Tuticorin.

They were arrested by the Indian coastguard for breaching India's territorial waters.

They were released with the direct intervention of Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.

Along with the fishermen, 28 boats held in custody were also released.

The spokesperson said the rest of the fishermen would be brought back in groups beginning next week.

The fishermen in Tuticorin will be repatriated by the second week of January.