Fishermen Return After 8 Months In Custody

COLOMBO(News 1st); Six Sri Lankan fishermen who were in Bangladeshi custody are scheduled to return to the island today.

This comes after eight months.

The fishermen had set out to sea on the multi-day vessel Sudu Duwa 4 on July 16.

They were later arrested by the Bangladeshi Navy for allegedly violating the country’s maritime boundary.

They were detained at the Chittagong Central Jail in Bangladesh and were released the day before yesterday following legal proceedings.

The released fishermen are expected to arrive in the country today.

The Ministry of Fisheries said they were freed after diplomatic intervention by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Bangladesh, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.