Sri Lanka on Wednesday released 46 Indian fishermen who were arrested on June 18, 2014 on charges of poaching.
The Sri Lankan Navy took into custody two batches of Indian fishermen on June 18 off Delft Islands and Thalaimannar for engaging in allegedly illegal fishing activity. They were remanded to custody soon after. On Wednesday, however, officials at the Indian High Commission in Colombo said the 46 fishermen had been released. India’s Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi also tweeted the update, adding that the modalities were their return was being worked out.
Heading home! 17 Indians rescued in Iraq from Conflict Zone were brought to Baghdad and now are heading home.
>http://t.co/wKk6vlCM7b
— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia)
>June 24, 2014The move is in line with Sri Lanka’s current position that it would release arrested Indian fishermen promptly, but will retain the trawlers confiscated from them.
After their release, a total of 18 Indian fishermen remain in Sri Lankan custody.