The five Indian fishermen, who were released by Sri Lanka last evening, are expected to return home today. The transfer documents and immigration formalities of the Tamil fishermen are expected to be completed today and they will be able to return home, three years after they were caught in Sri Lankan waters on charges of drug smuggling. The fishermen were handed over to the officials of the Indian High Commission last evening after their release from Welikada Prison in Colombo. In a press release, the Indian High Commission in Colombo thanked Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the humanitarian gesture. It said that the decision will further strengthen the strong and multi-faceted relations between India and Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, in Tamil Nadu, the local fishermen in Ramanathapuram district have welcomed the release of the fishermen. Our correspondent reports that the fishermen in the Ramanathapuram district celebrated by bursting crackers and sharing sweets.

The families of the five Tamil fishermen from Thankachimadom Rameswaram will be waiting to receive them at the Tiruchirapalli airport. Sense of relief turned to a joyous mood in fishermen hamlets as news trickled about the Presidential pardon to the fishermen who were languishing in Lankan jail since 2011. The families of the five fishermen showed their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and acknowledged the efforts of central and state governments. The Tamil Nadu fishermen from all the coastal districts in solidarity had resorted to strike urging the release of five fishermen. The local fishermen now hope that the centre will take steps to retrieve fishing boats of Tamils detained by Sri Lanka. They expect an early solution to the problem of Sri Lankan Navy apprehending Tamil fishermen fishing near Kachatheevu crossing international maritime boundary line.