Sri Lanka releases 51 Indian fishermen

New Delhi: The Sri Lankan government has released 51 Indian fishermen and they were on their way back home.

The fishermen were arrested for allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan waters.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa had ordered the release of the fishermen as a good will gesture ahead of his attending Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted, "51 Indian fishermen released from custody left from Thalaimanar in Sri Lanka for home."

Earlier, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa wrote to Modi on the fishermen and demanded a permanent solution to the problem and also to put in place a strong and robust diplomatic response.