56 Indian Fisherman Released Last Month By Sri Lankan Court Are Now Being Moved To Immigration Detention Centre

56 Indian fisherman were released last month by a Sri Lankan court in Jaffna. The prison authorities state that they will now be moved to an immigration detention centre on Monday as they have completed their COVID quarantine period.

Prison Superintendent and Spokesman Chandana Ekanayake told PTI on Sunday that the Indian fishermen had spent their isolation period in the prison-run COVID-19 quarantine centre of Iyakkachchi in the Northern province since their release on January 25.

“Some of them were found COVID positive, now their quarantine period has ended,” she said, adding that they would be moved to an immigration detention center in Colombo on Monday.

The 56 Indian fishermen were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy. They were allegedly fishing in Sri Lanka's territorial waters in the seas south of Mannar.

The fishermen were arrested on two separate days. Their 10 trawlers were seized.

The court's order for their release came as the Indian authorities urged Sri Lanka to release them on humanitarian grounds in the backdrop of economic assistance talks that were ongoing at the time.

India last month had announced an economic relief package to Sri Lanka to help its southern neighbour tackle its worst foreign exchange crisis.

Meanwhile, sources in the northern fishing department said the 21 Indian fishermen arrested on February 1 will be produced in the Point Pedro magistrate court later on Monday.

The Sri Lankan Navy had arrested 21 Indians along with two fishing trawlers after being alerted by the local fishermen. The issue of fishermen remains an irritant in India and Sri Lanka ties.

There have been a few alleged incidents when Sri Lankan Navy personnel have even fired shots at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait.

The Palk Strait is a narrow strip of water separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka. It is a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both countries.

The issue of fishermen had figured in the talks between Sri Lanka's Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and External Affairs minister S Jaishankar held last month on the economic assistance from India.

(With inputs from PTI)