Lanka released 24 Indian fishermen

Mannar District Court on Tuesday ordered the release of 24 Rameswaram fishermen, who had been lodged in a prison there after they were arrested by the Lankan Navy on June 5 on the charge of illegal fishing in their waters.

A Fisheries Department official, quoting Intelligence reports, said the fishermen were produced before the court on Tuesday afternoon and set free. They had been earlier remanded till July 4. The official, however, had no information about when the released fishermen would be repatriated or about the fate of 33 others still in Lankan prison. Mannar court ordered the release following an order from the Sri Lankan Attorney General. Basil Rajapaksa , brother of president Rajapaksa schedule to visit India tomorrow.