27 Sri Lankan fishermen to be released by India tomorrow

COLOMBO: Indian authorities have taken steps to release 27 Sri Lankan fishermen and five trawlers by tommorrow, ministry of fisheries here said today.

The released fishermen are due to arrive tomorrow, ministry spokesman Narendra Rajapaksa told reporters.

The fishermen and their five boats had been arrested by the Indian coast guards for poaching in Indian waters off the Tamil Nadu coast in April, Rajapaksa said.

Sri Lankan ministry of fisheries said that 21 more fishermen and four trawlers also await release by the Indians after formal legal procedures.

"Some of them are facing court cases filed in the provinces of Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat", Rajapaksa added.