Sri Lanka to release 9 Indian fishermen

Nine Indian fishermen who had gone missing and were taken into custody by the Sri Lankan Navy after they strayed into their waters due to a technical snag in their boats will be released on Monday.

Assistant Director of Fisheries, Veeran, said the Lankan Navy had informed them through the Coast Guard that the fishermen had landed there by accident on Sunday, and they were to be released on Monday after being found innocent.

They would be received by the officials at the International Maritime boundary line.

Officials had said on Sunday that nine fishermen from Rameshwaram went missing and more than 200 boats damaged in an alleged attack by Lankan Naval personnel at the International Maritime Boundary Line in Palk Strait.

The fishermen were later traced in Lankan waters and taken into custody by the Lankan Navy.