Chennai, Jan 18 (IANS): The talks between representatives of the Indian and the Sri Lankan fishing communities have been postponed to Jan 27 on a request from the island nation, the Tamil Nadu government said here Saturday.

In a statement issued here, the state government said the centre has sent a communication Jan 17, requesting the postponement of the meet by a week. The talks were earlier slated for Jan 20.

The centre said that Sri Lanka had requested for postponement of the meeting as its fisheries minister Rajitha Senaratne had returned home Jan 17 after his India visit.

Sri Lanka needs time to finalise the representatives of the fishermen who would participate in the talks.

The centre added that Sri Lanka had advised its officials to release the Indian fishermen lodged in its various jails.

Taking into account the centre's letter, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa has ordered postponement of the talks to Jan 27.

According to the state government, around 173 Indian fishermen have been released by Sri Lanka out of the 225 lodged in its jails.

Similarly, Tamil Nadu has released 113 Sri Lankan fishermen out of the 179 lodged in its jails.