India and Sri Lanka today agreed to free all fishermen and release their vessels under their custody immediately. Sri Lankan Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Rajitha Senaratne said after meeting Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar in New Delhi that the process of releasing the fishermen and vessels would start from tomorrow.

He said he would be directing his ministry and the Attorney General's department in this regard. He said about 160 Sri Lankan fishermen and four vessels are to be released from India and Sri Lanka has to release 236 Indian fishermen and 90 boats.

A six-member committee, comprising three Indian and Sri Lankan officials each has been constituted to resolve the problems relating to fishing between the two countries.

The first meeting would be convened in New Delhi tomorrow. The Indian side would be headed by the Agriculture Secretary and the Sri Lankan side would be led by the Director General of Fisheries.

Senaratne also met External Minister Salman Khurshid today and discussed the issues related to their fishermen.