Sri Lanka Navy had assisted the repatriation of 8 Indian fishermen released from Sri Lanka.

Government made an announcement to release all Indian fishermen arrested by Sri Lanka Navy for allegedly poaching in Sri Lanka territorial waters, as a gesture of goodwill for Pongal festival.

104 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry were arrested and their vessels were impounded for poaching in territorial sea.

55 fishermen out of 104 were released on 14th January. The rest of the fishermen are to be released within the next few days.

The 8 fishermen who were released, were handed over to an Indian Coast Guard Ship at the International Maritime Boundary Line, North of Kankasanthurai, Sri Lanka Navy said in a statement.