The fishermen, who had launched a five-day fast highlighting the demand on August 8, announced this after ending the fast today.
If the fishermen were not released by August 22, then fishermen here would block road and rail traffic the next day, Emerite and Jasuraja, senior functionaries of fishermen organisations said here.
President of the fishing women's association, Rose Mari, said black flags would be hoisted on August 15 atop their houses, to express "our sadness".
The five fishermen were arrested by Sri Lankan Navy on November 28 last on charges of smuggling drugs to the island nation.