Sri Lanka Releases 14 Indian Fishermen During PM Modi’s Visit

Sri Lanka releases 14 Indian fishermen as goodwill gesture. PM Modi emplanes for Tamil Nadu from Anuradhapura Airport. Read more at Dynamite News.

Colombo, Sri lanka: Sri Lanka freed 14 Indian fishermen on Sunday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the country. The move is seen as a friendly step to improve ties between the two nations.

PM Modi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake held talks and launched key India-backed projects. These included upgraded railway systems on the Maho-Anuradhapura and Maho-Omanthai lines.

The leaders also visited the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi temple in Anuradhapura, praying together in a display of shared cultural bonds. "In Anuradhapura with my friend," PM Modi posted on social media, sharing photos.

Modi met Sri Lankan opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, showing India's outreach across political parties. The visit, his first since 2019, followed the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok.

In a major gesture, Sri Lanka awarded Modi its highest civilian honour, the Mitra Vibhushana. Officials called it a recognition of India's support during Sri Lanka's crises.

"India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy remains central to regional cooperation," said Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra. The fishermen's release, he added, reflects this commitment.