Lanka to free TN fishermen in two days

CHENNAI: The Centre has informed the State government that the 23 fishermen held in a Sri Lankan jail would be released in two days.In press release, the State government said CM J Jayalalithaa wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh immediately after the arrest of fishermen and seizure of five fishing boats by the Lankan authorities, urging him to take steps to secure their release. On the CM’s instructions, State Chief Secretary Debendranath Sarangi followed up the issue with top officials including the National Security Advisor Shiva Shankar Menon.On June 20, 23 fishermen from Rameswaram were apprehended by Sri Lanka authorities for straying into their border and lodged in Talaimannar jail.