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Lanka seeks early release of 74 fishermen
View(s):Sri Lanka will make a fresh appeal to the Indian Government, requesting the early release of 74 Lankan fishermen in custody there, a senior Fisheries Ministry official said yesterday. “We have made such requests earlier also. We hope the Indian government will consider the request this time,” Ministry Secretary R.M. Dissanayaka said.
The fresh appeal came as the Sri Lankan Government released all but 11 Indian fishermen in custody in goodwill gestures aimed at improving relations with the new Indian government.
As poaching by Indian fishermen continue in Sri Lanka’s waters, Fisheries Department Assistant Director Lal de Silva said the Navy released 53 Indian fishermen arrested while poaching in Sri Lankan waters, but their boats were detained. He said the Attorney General had ordered that all Indian fishermen be released.
“Eleven Indian fishermen remain in Sri Lankan custody for the judicial process until July 7 and they will be released thereafter,” he said. The official said 74 Sri Lankan fishermen were still in custody on charges of poaching in Indian waters. “These fishermen were arrested in May,” he said.