Picture for representational purpose only. Picture for representational purpose only.

Sri Lankan authorities on Tuesday handed over 168 Indian fishermen and 51 boats to the Indian Coast Guard at the International Maritime Boundary Line.

ICG ship Rani Abbakka received the fishermen and the fishing boats from the Sri Lankan Navy and Coast Guard this evening at the Indo-Sri Lankan International Maritime Boundary Line, a coast guard release said.

The boats are likely to be handed over to state fisheries authorities on Wednesday, the release added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Sri Lanka had discussed the issue of Indian fishermen -- a major irritant in bilateral ties -- with the island nation's President Maithripala Sirisena.