53 Indian fishermen released from Sri Lankan jail as goodwill gesture

Fifty-three Indian fishermen were released on Friday from a Sri Lankan jail, days after the two countries decided to release fishermen in each other’s custody to defuse tension following the killing of an Indian fisherman allegedly by the Lankan navy.

“53 fishermen have been released from Jaffna jail while 32 others are still in custody in Vuvuniya jail,” Fishery Ministry officials said.

Sri Lanka had earlier informed the Indian High Commission in Colombo that it will release all 85 Indian fishermen in their custody, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay said.

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Sri Lanka and India on Wednesday agreed to release fishermen held in each other’s custody after a high-level discussion between the two sides in Colombo in a bid to defuse the tension following the killing of an Indian fisherman.

A 22-year-old fisherman from Tamil Nadu was killed and another injured on March 6 allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy.