Welcoming India's decision  to abstain from voting on the US backed resolution presented to the UNHRC, President Mahinda Rajapaksa today (28) ordered Sri Lankan authorities to release all Indian fishermen who are jailed in Sri Lanka for violating the country's maritime laws. 

India also voted in favour of Pakistan's proposal to eliminate Operative Paragraph 10 of the US resolution which deals with international investigation.

The India delegation to the 25th session of the UNHRC said the resolution has the potential to hinder the efforts of the country rather than contribute constructively to its efforts, and hence inadvertently complicate the situation. 

It was widely speculated that India will vote in favour of the US resolution due to pressure exerted by Tamil Nadu political parties on the Indian central government.  

However, the President's decision to release all Indian fishermen will also set the platform to recommence fishermen level dialogue between India and Sri Lanka which is now at a standstill. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jeyaram categorically stated that bilateral talks would not be recommenced if Sri Lanka failed to release all Indian fishermen.