Indian Coast Guard hands over 23 Sri Lankan fishermen to Lankan officials

The Indian Coast Guard has handed over 23 Sri Lankan fishermen along with their four fishing boats to the officials of the island nation at the Indo-Sri Lankan International Maritime Boundary Line.

The Coast Guard ship Vishwast undertook the repatriation on August 29 from the coast of Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, towing the boats for about 840 kilometres and handed them over to Sri Lankan forces at the Indo-Sri Lankan International Maritime Boundary Line today, an official release said today.

In 2014 alone, the Coast Guard (Eastern) region has repatriated 171 Indian fishing boats along with 930 crew and 55 Sri Lankan fishing boats and 353 crew members, the release said.