NEF Chairman M Ilango in a letter to Wickremesinghe, now on a three-day visit to India, said the forum was 'grateful' to him for releasing the 16 Tamil Nadu fishermen, arrested on September 1 for allegedly entering the island nation waters.
The fishermen were released 'in a goodwill gesture' ahead of Wickremesinghe's visit to the country.
Ilango said NFF extended a warm welcome to the Sri Lankan Prime Minister.
The current visit of Wickremesinghe should augur well for the fishermen of two countries, he said urging for release of 34 boats belonging to the Indian fishermen.