Sri Lanka releases four fishermen

RAMANATHAPURAM: Four Tamil Nadu fishermen, who had been detained in Sri Lanka, returned on Sunday. They were handed over to Indian Coast Guard, Mandapam on the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). Sources said the four fishermen - John Pritto, Maria Clause, Sahaya Robert and Justin of Rameswaram - had ventured into sea for fishing on February 8.They were detained by the Lankan navy on the charge of trespassing the IMBL.Then, the Mannar court issued an order to lodge them in Anurathapuram prison till February 14. However, the Lankan government issued an order to release them later and the four fishermen were taken to Vavunya. The Lankan navy brought all of them to IMBL and handed them over to the Indian Coast Guard who took them over to the Mandapam station later. The four fishermen were handed over to the fisheries department officials after conducting an inquiry. Devadas, president to Fishermen Cooperative Societies-Rameswaram welcomed the four fishermen as they returned home.