Sri Lanka will release more than 100 Indian fishermen detained for poaching and that India will free dozens of Sri Lankan fishermen in its custody, AP reported, citing the country's Foreign Ministry.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mahishini Colonne said on Wednesday that the process of releasing the 120 Indian fishermen held in Sri Lanka began Wednesday morning. She said all of them “will be released in the next few days.”

Colonne also said that India will release the 36 Sri Lankan fishermen held in that country.

Contentious issue

Poaching has become a contentious issue between the two nations. On several occasions, officials from both sides have discussed releasing detained fishermen and taking long-term measures to prevent unlawful fishing in each other’s waters.

(With inputs from AP)