Fishermen in Indian

custody return tomorrowTwenty five fishermen and five fishing trawlers held in Indian custody have been released and will return to Sri Lanka tomorrow, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry sources said.

The Sri Lankan fishermen and their vessels were taken into custody by the Indian Coastguard on February 6 after they allegedly crossed the Indian International Maritime Boundary Line and fished in their seas illegally.

Ministry sources said Laksayuru, Kaveesha Putha, Laksiri-11, Laksiri-1 and Laksiri IV and 25 crew members were taken into Indian custody.

They were taken into custody in Tamil Nadu.

The vessels left for fishing from the Tangalle fisheries harbour on January 26. The Indian Coastguard will hand over the vessels and fishermen to the Sri Lanka Navy and three Indian fishermen and their vessels which are in Sri Lankan custody will be handed over to the Indian Coastguard, ministry sources said.

According to the sources, the fishermen were released following the intervention of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne. RD