Sri Lanka and India have agreed to release the fishermen in their respective custodies. Accordingly, Sri Lanka releases 85 Indian fishermen from its custody. The Sri Lankan government yesterday decided to release all 85 Indian fishermen who are now in its custody.

The decision was taken based on the request made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe. The Indian government too is likely to reciprocate the gesture and release the 19 Sri Lankan fishermen in its custody, the source said. The release of the 85 fishermen is in line with the Sri Lankan government’s policy of swiftly releasing fishermen it arrests on charges of poaching, but retaining the trawlers seized.