Rajapaksa orders release of Indian fishermen

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday ordered the release of 76 Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody.

The order, which officials at the Indian High Commission in Colombo confirmed, comes a couple of days after Mr. Rajapaksa met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New York, when Mr. Modi is said to have raised the issue of their release.

The group of fishermen to be released includes different batches arrested in early September on charges of engaging in illegal fishing.

However, there was no announcement with regard to the release of trawlers that were seized by the Sri Lankan navy.

Over the last two days, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 20 fishermen and seized five trawlers in their possession.