Sri Lankan Navy hands over 168 Indian fishermen to Indian Coast Guard

Chennai: Sri Lankan authorities on Tuesday handed over 168 Indian fishermen and 51 boats to the Indian Coast Guard at the International Maritime Boundary Line.

ICG ship Rani Abbakka received the fishermen and the fishing boats from the Sri Lankan Navy and Coast Guard this evening at the Indo-Sri Lankan International Maritime Boundary Line, a coast guard release said.

The boats are likely to be tomorrow handed over to state fisheries authorities, the release added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Sri Lanka had discussed the issue of Indian fishermen -- a major irritant in bilateral ties -- with the island nation's president, Maithripala Sirisena.