File photo of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
India today thanked President Mahinda Rajapaksa for releasing all Indian fishermen in Sri Lanka's custody as a goodwill gesture ahead of India's Independence Day.
India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, YK Sinha, called on Mr Rajapaksa at the Temple Trees to convey his gratitude. "Mr Sinha expressed his appreciation for the President's gesture to release Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody on the occasion of India's Independence Day that is celebrated tomorrow," Mr Rajapaksa's office said in a statement.
Sri Lanka has released 225 Indian fishermen since the Narendra Modi government took over in May this year. A total of 93 fishermen from Tamil Nadu were still in Sri Lankan custody.
The fishermen issue continues to be a major irritant in the Indo-Lanka ties.
Last month, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa wrote to Prime Minister Modi urging him to take immediate steps to get all 93 fishermen released along with 62 boats that were confiscated by the Sri Lankan navy.