To mark the first joint sitting of Indian Parliament, President Mahinda Rjapaksa has instructed to release all Indian fishermen who are presently in Sri Lankan custody. 

President Mahinda Rajapaksa tweeted his decision Monday afternoon, saying: “On the occasion of the 1st joint sitting of Indian Parliament, I have instructed officials to release the 78 Indian fishermen in SL custody.”

The 18 trawlers seized from them, however, will be retained, a senior government official told the Indian newspaper, The Hindu.

The President’s tweet was soon followed by another one with an apparent message to the Indian government, where he said: “I look forward to the release of all remaining #SriLankan fishermen in #Indian custody at the earliest.”

Tamil Nadu political parties have urged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in securing the release of arrested Indian fishermen. They have stated that the Indian Prime Minister should exert diplomatic pressure on Sri Lanka.