In Tamil Nadu, the sixteen Tamil fishermen released by Sri Lanka returned to Karaikal private port today evening. The fishermen were brought to the port by Indian Coast Guard and were handed over to Tamil Nadu fisheries authorities. The Tamil fishermen were released last Sunday as goodwill gesture to Sri Lankan Prime Minister's visit to India. <br/><br/>They were welcomed at the Karaikal private port by their families and state fisheries authorities. There is immense joy in the fishing hamlets of Akkaraipettai, Kottaipattinam, Mandapam. Nine fishermen from Nagapattinam, three fishermen from Pudukottai and four fishermen from Ramanathapuram were apprehended by Sri Lankan Navy on first of this month when they were fishing near Kodiakarai. <br/><br/>The Sri Lankan Navy had detained their three fishing boats and took them to Kankesanthurai. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalaithaa had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure the release of Tamil fishermen and their 26 fishing boats. Sri Lanka announced the release of 16 Tamil fishermen last Sunday as a prelude to Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe's visit to India. . <br/><br/>The Tamil fishermen were handed over to Indian Coast Guard at the international maritime boundary line by Sri Lankan Navy today afternoon. The Tamil fishermen were then sent to their local fishing hamlets by fisheries authorities.