Colombo: India on Thursday thanked President Mahinda Rajapaksa for releasing all Indian fishermen in Sri Lanka`s custody as a goodwill gesture ahead of India`s Independence Day.
India`s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, YK Sinha, called on Rajapaksa at the Temple Trees to convey his gratitude.
"Mr Sinha expressed his appreciation for the President`s gesture to release Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody on the occasion of India`s Independence Day that is celebrated tomorrow," Rajapaksa`s office said in a statement.
Sri Lanka has released 225 Indian fishermen since the Narendra Modi government took over in May this year. A total of 93 fishermen from Tamil Nadu were still in Sri Lankan custody.
The fishermen issue continues to be a major irritant in the Indo-Lanka ties. Last month, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa wrote to Prime Minister Modi urging him to take immediate steps to get all 93 fishermen released along with 62 boats that were confiscated by the Sri Lankan navy.