India releases 108 Lankan fishermen

Rasika SOMARATHNA

Indian authorities released another group of 108 Sri Lankan fishermen, who were in custody for encroaching the Indian waters.

India has released their 28 boats following negotiations with Lankan authorities. The Coastal Guard of the Indian Navy will hand over the first batch of released fishermen numbering 34 to the Sri Lankan Navy at the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) today.

The rest will arrive in the country during next week, a spokesman for the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Ministry said. He said the Indian authorities have agreed to release the arrested fishermen and boats without fines, following requests by Minister Felix Perera and Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner's office in Chennai. However, 31 fishermen arrested by the Indian authorities on January 10, have been fined Rs. 50,000 each after their private negotiations failed.