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Sri Lanka has 'begun process' to release 120 Indian fishermen

The Sri Lankan government has pledged to release 120 arrested Indian fishermen, according to a foreign ministry official on Wednesday.

“The process to release the detained Indian fishermen began today,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mahishini Colonne, adding that all of them "will be released in the next few days".

“This is pure humanitarian action,” she added.

Sri Lankan had initially pledged to 86 Indian fishermen today, according to a Tamil Nadu statement last week. No-one has yet been freed. A further 34 Indian fishermen were arrested yesterday, sparking more outcry from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

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