Colombo: Sri Lanka on Wednesday released 23 Indian fishermen who were arrested last week for reportedly straying into country's water, after India took up the matter with authorities here.
"They were released on Attorney General's advice", a Sri Lankan police source said.
They were brought to Mannar magistrate's court from the Anuradhapura prison. A court ordered their release.
Earlier a court had ordered to keep them in remand till July 5 for poaching in Sri Lankan waters.
The Navy took charge of them after being released and they will be handed over the Indian authorities.
The fishermen, on board five trawlers, were arrested last week off the north east coat of Mannar by the Sri Lankan Navy, and were then handed over to the Talaimannar police.
An external affairs ministry official had said on June 26 that a decision is likely to be arrived on their release from Sri Lankan custody.
"There have been high level discussions on the issue and following a discussion to be held...a decision is likely to be made to release them," the official had said.
A similar governmental intervention in February had resulted in the release of Indian fishermen from Sri Lankan custody despite a court order to hold them under remand for a longer period.
Diplomatic activities between the two countries have been frequent since the early part of this year with an increasing number of cases of poaching on each other's waters by fishermen of both countries.
Following the arrest, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention to secure their release.
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