Two courts in Sri Lanka on Monday ordered the release of 163 Tamil Nadu fishermen, arrested by naval personnel of the island nation in the past two months and lodged in prisons there, a top functionary of the local fishermen's organisation said.
With the latest arrest, the number of Tamil Nadu fishermen in Sri Lankan custody has risen to 61.
Sri Lankan authorities have arrested 19 Indian fishermen and seized five boats when they were allegedly fishing in the country's waters. A total of 19 fishermen were arrested north of the Jaffna Delft islet late on Saturday night, navy spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya said in Colombo on Sunday.
More than 120 Indian fishermen, arrested by Sri Lankan Navy in the past several months, were released on Friday in line with the reciprocal agreement reached between the two countries to set free detained fishermen.
