The Indian High Commission said on Friday that 21 Indian fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy have been sent back and are on their way from Colombo to Chennai. The Indian High Commission in Colombo and the Indian Consulate in Jaffna, in collaboration with Sri Lankan government officials, secured the release of the Indian fishermen.
Indian fishermen return home
The High Commission posted on social media platform X along with the picture of the released fishermen, ‘Homecoming! 21 Indian fishermen have been successfully brought back and are on their way to Chennai from Colombo. On Thursday, the Indian Mission said on Twitter, ‘DHC Dr Satyanjal and other officials met the fishermen today, inquired about their well-being and assured their return within a day.’
The issue of fishermen has been the main cause of disputes
The issue of fishermen has been a major cause of dispute in relations between India and Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan Navy personnel even fired on Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seized their boats in several alleged incidents of illegally entering Sri Lankan territorial waters.
Protest lodged against death of Indian fisherman
An Indian fisherman was killed and another missing following a collision between a Sri Lankan naval ship and an Indian fishing boat, reportedly in the island nation’s territorial waters, on Thursday morning. The acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka was called to the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi on Thursday and a strong protest was lodged over the incident.