New Delhi: With the intervention of the Government of Bharat, Sri Lankan government has released 22 fishermen hailing from Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, who were detained by Sri Lankan Navy personnel on November 18 on charges of poaching. The release includes the return of two country boats seized from the fishermen.
The intervention of the central government played a crucial role in securing the release. According to the president of the country boat fishermen association, a delegation of fishermen met with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the evening of November 18. They briefed her about the arrest, prompting her to engage with the External Affairs Secretary in New Delhi and the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka. The minister sought their intervention to facilitate the release of the fishermen and their boats.
Following these diplomatic efforts, the Sri Lankan government issued an order releasing all 22 fishermen along with the two country boats. The arrested fishermen are reported to be in the process of being handed over at the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) by the Sri Lankan authorities, and arrangements are underway to bring them back home.
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