SL frees 37 Indian fishermen

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena today ordered the release of 37 Indian fishermen lodged in various prisons of the island nation after a meeting with a delegation of five Indian fishermen.

President of Rameswaram Fishermen's Association Sesuraja, who led the team to Sri Lanka, told PTI that Sirisena told them that the fishermen would be released soon.

But the Sri Lankan President did not mention about the Indian boats still in detention in Lanka, he said.

N Devadas, another leader of the association who was also a member in the delegation, said they also sought permission from Sri Lanka to fish in the Palk Straits as they were frequently attacked and arrested by the Lankan navy.

Sesuraja said they met Sirisena in a bid to sort out various problems faced by them while fishing in the traditional fishing areas in Palk Strait.

He said Sri Lanka had agreed to take steps for holding official level and fishermen level talks to sort problems faced by fishermen of the two countries.