Sri Lanka frees all Indian fishermen after EAM steps in

New Delhi, Feb 18 (ANI): A day after External Affairs Minister S M Krishna expressed India's deep concern at the detention of nearly 136 fishermen in Jaffna district, Sri Lanka on Friday released all the Indian fishermen detained by its navy.

The Indian fishermen, who were arrested and remanded earlier this week for straying into Sri Lankan waters, were released by a Jaffna court today and are expected to be handed over to the Indian authorities this evening.

Earlier on Thursday, Krishna said: "I have just had a telephonic conversation with the Minister of External Affairs of Sri Lanka Professor Peiris and I have conveyed India's deep concern at the detention of nearly 136 fishermen in Jaffna district, and I have also conveyed my deep regret that Sri Lankan nationals and Sri Lankan fishermen have taken law into their hands and confronted our fishermen."

"Today is a holiday in Sri Lanka and courts are not functioning. We are hoping that tomorrow it will function. By tomorrow, I am hopeful that the Sri Lankan government will take the necessary steps to get all the 136 fishermen released," he added.

This was the fourth such incident of fishermen either being killed or detained in Lanka this year. (ANI)