Fishermen reach India tonight
The 23 Indian fishermen, who were released by the Sri Lankan authorities today, set sail for India this afternoon in their five trawlers from Thalaimannar in Sri Lanka. The Consul General for Jaffna, Mr Mahalingam, confirmed this.

The fishermen will be handed over to the Indian Coast Guard at the International Maritime boundary Line (IMBL) and are expected to reach Mandapam tonight.

Earlier, a local court in Sri Lanka today ordered the release of these Indian fishermen who had been remanded in judicial custody for crossing the IMBL.

India had urged Sri Lanka to immediately release the fishermen on humanitarian ground. External Affairs Minister S M Krishna had urged the Sri Lankan Government to release the fishermen, who were also accused of ramming into Lankan naval ships.

In another incident, The Sri Lankan Navy on Thursday arrested six persons involved in smuggling of cannabis or Kerala Ganja and flavoured chewing tobacco in Mannar. Among the arrested are two Indians and four Sri Lankan accomplices.