S Emerit, President of 'Meenavar Meenava Nala Sangam' (Fishermen's welfare association), said the fishermen lodged in jails in Jaffna and Anuradhapuram agreed to withdraw their fast only after they were assured that action would be taken to release them.
The fishermen were arrested over a period of time for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line and fishing in the island nation's territorial waters.