Mr. Douglas Devananda, Minister of Fisheries, says that steps will be taken to release all the youths in Indian custody as soon as possible.

It was during a discussion held with a group of relatives of 69 Tamil youths who were arrested by the Indian Navy while trying to go abroad illegally.

In the meeting held at Mullaitivu District Secretariat, the relatives said that they tried to go abroad due to the inability to continue their fishing jobs due to the current economic crisis.

 The arrested youths are currently detained in the Bangalore jail. The minister said that he does not condone trying to go to another country illegally, and said that he will take steps to free the concerned youths by using their relations.