Sri Lankan court orders release of 37 Tamil Nadu fishermen

Thirty-seven fishermen from this island, arrested in two batches by Sri Lankan Navy while fishing near Katchatheevu recently, were today ordered to be released by a court in the neighbouring country.

Mannar court magistrate Aanandhi Kanagarathinam ordered the release of the fishermen, Pamban Fishermen Association president U Arulanandam said quoting information received by the association.

The fishermen were arrested on June 19 and July 4, he said.

Meanwhile, four fishermen from here, who put out to sea in a boat on July 9, have been arrested by the Lankan navalmen near Neduntheevu after they got "stranded" in the sea due to a technical snag in their vessel, Joint Director of Fisheries (Rameswaram) Gopinath said.