All 120 Indians and 36 Sri Lankans to be freed

A policy decision has been taken to release all 120 Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody and 36 Sri Lankan fishermen in Indian custody, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mahishini Colonne said that the process to release the fishermen began today and the fishermen are expected to be freed over the next couple of days. She said that a decision had been taken to release all the Indians on humanitarian grounds but the process will take a few days. 

Colonne said that the Sri Lankan Government looks at the fishermen issue on humanitarian grounds and continues to deal with it in that manner. 

(Colombo Gazette)