Sri Lanka Navy Hands Over 34 Fisherman to the Indian Coast Guard

State Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar,and other officials received the fishermen from Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram.

An Indian fisherman rows his boat. (Photo: Reuters)

• The Sri Lankan Navy handed over the thirty-four fishermen to the Indian Coast Guard near the International Maritime Boundary Line on Tuesday. They were released by Sri Lankan courts on 14 May after being detained by the island nation’s Navy last month.
  

• State Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar, District Collector S Pazhanisamy and other officials received the fishermen from Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram Districts, who were arrested in batches on different dates last month.
  

• Speaking to reporters, the released fishermen appealed to the government for taking necessary steps to also secure the release of the 93 boats seized by the Lankan Navy, as their livelihood depended on them.
  

(With PTI inputs.)