Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: A day after Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa ordered the release of 78 Indian fishermen, SL envoy P Kariyawasam on Tuesday said that they hope that Indian government will reciprocate in the same manner.
“We have consistently released Indian fishermen as goodwill gesture, hope India also releases Sri Lankans in their custody,” Kariyawasam told ANI.
Sri Lankan envoy`s statement came after President Rajapaksa ordered the release of 78 Indian fishermen after they allegedly poached into the Sri Lankan waters.
The goodwill gesture was shown by the by Sri Lanka as the Indian government held the first joint session of the Parliament.
In a bid to enhance the relationship between two countries, the Sri Lankan President was invited by the Indian government for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
However, the invitation triggered a row with an upset Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and MDMK leader Vaiko deciding to skip the function.