Indian fishermen to be released soon: Sri Lanka

LANKA-FISHERMEN


T V Sriram

Colombo, Sep 22 (PTI) Sri Lanka Tuesday said it will
soon release 21 Indian fishermen, detained here for their
alleged illegal entry into its territorial waters, in view of
"very friendly" relationship with India.

"India and Sri Lanka are like brothers. We have to
always respect India. If anything like this (of fishermen
straying into each others territorial waters) happens we will
negotiate and settle it," Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources Felix Perera said here Tuesday.

The detained fishermen are in police remand at
Anuradhapura in North Central Sri Lanka, officials said.

"Indo-Lanka relations matters the most," he said,
adding "we don't want to go to court as fishermen are poor
people. Sometimes (during fishing) they don't know where to go
and how to go. They thereby violate rules," Perera told PTI.

"We do not take severe action. India also releases our
fishermen," the minister said, adding there have been several
requests for the release of Indian fishermen.

"I have asked for all the details of the Indian
fishermen for their release.. We are a bit busy because of the
the Southern Provincial elections scheduled to be held on
October 10," he said. (MORE) PTI TVS
SDE


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