China has called on Sri Lanka to release 37 Chinese fishermen detained by the Sri Lankan navy, China's Xinhua state news agency reported on Monday, in a case that could test increasingly close ties between Beijing and Colombo.
 
Sri Lanka's navy arrested the fishermen on Sunday night. They were aboard two trawlers off the Sri Lankan east coast town of Batticaloa, Xinhua said.
 
"The Chinese embassy ... has urged Sri Lankan authorities to handle the issue in accordance with the law, sort out the truth and release the Chinese fishermen as soon as possible," Xinhua said. (Source: Reuters)