Sri Lankan Navy frees four Indian fishermen

Colombo: Sri Lanka Navy has released four Indian fishermen who were detained last month after their boat developed snag in Lankan waters.

The fishermen from Nagapattinam were handed over to the Indian coast guard vessel 'Rani Durgawathi' yesterday, the Lankan Navy said on Sunday.

Their release came on a day when the Lankan Navy arrested nine Indian fishermen while fishing near Iranatheevu island, a sensitive area where the LTTE had their camp earlier.

Earlier this month, Sri Lanka released 104 Indian fishermen lodged in its jails on goodwill gesture.

Of the 104 fishermen, 61 fishermen were from Nagapattinam, Pudukottai and Karaikal districts while the rest were from Rameswaram and Mandapam.