India, Sri Lanka to release fishermen today

New Delhi: The Indian Coast Guard will undertake a simultaneous repatriation of Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen along the Indo-Sri Lankan International Maritime Boundary line by 11 am on Thursday.

This initiative follows the decision taken by both countries. On the Indian side, 52 fishermen were released from the Puzhal Central Prison at Chennai two days ago and are taken towards the Maritime border on board the Coast Guard ship Vishwast. All India Radio quoted Inspector General of the Coast Guard Commander SP Sharma, as saying that the swapping of fishermen would be supervised by Deputy Inspector General of Coast Guard Captain SK Varghese. The Indian High Commission in Colombo said that a batch of 51 Indian fishermen have been taken to Kankesanthurai in the Northern Province. They will be handed over by the Sri Lankan Navy to the Indian authorities later in the day. One fisherman, whose release has also been ordered, is not being handed over today since he has fallen sick and has been hospitalised. Incidents of attack on the fishermen and seizure of their boats by the Sri Lankan Navy has been an issue for coastal villages of Tamil Nadu.