Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has thanked President Mahinda Rajapaksa for pardoning and sending back the five Indian fishermen who were given death sentences in Sri Lanka.

"PM Modi thanked the President for pardoning and sending back the Indian fishermen," Rajapaksa said through his Twitter page.

He also said that he thanked Modi "for the foriegn policy his Government has adopted." Furthermore, Rajapaksa added "That is what made the releasing of fishermen possible."

The two leaders met yesterday in Kathmandu, Nepal, on the sidelines of the 18th SAARC Summit. They discussed matters of mutual importance.

Narendra Modi had Tweeted saying that during their meeting the two leaders "discussed ways to strengthen India-Sri Lanka relations in the years to come."