Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ordered the release of 29 Indian fishermen arrested by his country's navy, announced Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin Tuesday.
The development came on the day Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here.
The fishermen, who are from Tamil Nadu, were arrested last week allegedly for poaching in Sri Lankan waters off Thalaimannar in the north of the country and handed over to the fisheries department.
The Sri Lankan Navy said the Indians were poaching in Sri Lankan waters when they were arrested. Following their arrest, the navy also seized six boats of the detained Indian fishermen, according to media reports.
The issue of fishermen figured in the bilateral talks in New Delhi last week during the visit of President Rajapaksa to attend Modi's swearing-in.