As return gift for India's response at UN, Lanka releases fishermen

COLOMBO: Elated after India's abstention at the UN Human Rights Council vote on Sri Lanka, President Mahinda Rajapaksa today ordered the release of all Indian fishermen held in Sri Lankan custody for poaching.

"The President this morning has ordered the release of all Indian fishermen," Wijayananda Herath, a presidential spokesman told PTI.

The president's instructions have gone to the Attorney General and the Ministry of Fisheries to make the necessary arrangements for their release, Herath said.

Narendra Rajapaksa, the fisheries ministry spokesman said that at least 98 Indian fishermen were under Sri Lankan custody for violating the IMBL.

India was one of the 12 nations that abstained at yesterday's UNHRC vote on the resolution which has prescribed an international probe into Sri Lanka's alleged rights abuses.

Rajapaksa hailed the India's abstention as a very welcome and significant development which was very encouraging towards Sri Lanka.

India had supported both previous US-moved resolutions in 2012 and 2013.