New Delhi: The High Commission of India in Sri Lanka on Wednesday said that the 13 detained fishermen by the Lankan Navy in December have been released. The Sri Lankan Navy has detained the Tamil fishermen and seized their boats claiming that they have crossed the international maritime borders. The officials from the Consulate General of India have earlier met the detained fishermen and provided all the necessary support to them.
They have been provided basic necessities like clothes, snacks, and they have reportedly asked them to follow all the Covid protocols. The detainees were also facilitated to speak to their relatives on calls. Lankan Navy has earlier detained 55 fishermen for allegedly crossing the international maritime and 10 boats have been seized by them. After the fisherfolk from Rameshwaram and surrounding regions got to know about missing, they have gone on hunger strike demanding the Centre to bring back missing fishers.
In this context, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin earlier wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs mentioning that 55 fishers including 73 boats are in the custody of Sri Lanka. After several attempts from the state government requesting to release the captured fishermen, on Wednesday, the Sri Lankan government has finally decided to release 13 fishers.