Dear Editor,
It was indeed a bold decision by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to free five Indian fishermen who were on the death row. The development has handed Prime Minister Narendra Modi additional domestic and diplomatic victory that will enhance New Delhi’s traditionally cautious ties with Colombo. President Rajapaksa probably took this political decision before the announcement of the January presidential poll. For any perception of Colombo’s ‘softness’ could have been a political risk.
Ram Sarup
Samba