Sri Lanka to release 54 Indian fishermen

RAMESWARAM: The Sri Lankan government on Monday ordered the release of 54 Indian fishermen who were apprehended by the navy of that country on Saturday night, said U Arulanandam of the Alliance for Release of Innocent Fishermen.

Citing Indian high commission sources in Colombo, Arulanandam said the attorney general of the Island nation had issued the release orders. "The fishermen will be produced before the respective courts on Tuesday which will pronounce their release," he said.

Thirty three fishermen from Rameswaram will be produced before a Mannar court, which remanded them in judicial custody on Sunday. Twenty one others, hailing from Pudukottai, will be produced before a Kytes court.

However, the 10 boats captured from the fishermen are unlikely to be released now.

The decision to release the fishermen is seen as a goodwill measure ahead of the talks between the fishermen of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, scheduled to be held in Chennai on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Fishermen leaders had appealed to the Sri Lanka government to release the fishers as a goodwill measure ahead of the talks.

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