Mahinda to New Delhi for Modi’s oath-taking ceremony today

Monday, 26 May 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President orders Indian fishermen release to mark Indian New Premier’s swearing-in

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ordered the release of Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody, in a goodwill measure to mark the swearing-in of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the second such release in under two months. ‘As a goodwill measure on the occasion of @narendramodi’s swearing-in, President instructs officials to release Indian fishermen in custody,’ the President tweeted yesterday.

Modi welcomes Lanka, Pak moves

Indian Premier Designate Modi welcomed the move by Sri Lanka and neighbouring Pakistan, which also decided to release more than 100 fishermen in custody as a goodwill measure yesterday. “I welcome the step by Sri Lanka and Pakistan to release our fishermen. I welcome our fishermen brothers back home!” Modi tweeted.

However, there are only five Indian fishermen presently in custody, all of them arrested on narcotics charges, sources said, after the President ordered the release of 98 Indian fishermen in custody after India abstained from voting on the US-led resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in March. Indian fishermen are regularly arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy for poaching in Sri Lankan territorial waters, a thorny issue between the two neighbours, and recently coined the ‘Palk Bay conflict’. The Presidential delegation includes External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris, Monitoring MP for External Affairs Sajin Vaas Gunewardane, Minister Arumugam Thondaman and Jaffna Mayor Yogeswari Patkunaraj. President Rajapaksa will attend a special reception hosted by Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday before flying back to Colombo. SAARC leaders have been invited to the swearing-in of India’s 15th Prime Minister, and several regional Heads of State including Pakistani Premier Nawaz Sharif, President Rajapaksa and Afghanistan President Hamid Kharzai. The swearing-in ceremony will be attended by about 3,000 guests. (DB)