SRI LANKA RELEASES INDIAN FISHERMEN ON HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS
Posted on July 28th, 2012
by Walter Jayawardhana
Indian External Minister S.M. Krishna said the Twenty-three Tamil Nadu fishermen, arrested by Sri Lankan Navy on July 22 when they were fishing near Katchatheevu in the Palk Straits, have been released.
The Indian High Commission was making all arrangements for their return, Mr Krishna said at a joint press conference with his Indonesian counterpart Marty M Natalegawa in Delhi.
Their release today came a day after Krishna appealed to Sri Lanka to immediately set free the fishermen, who were also accused of ramming their boats into Lankan naval ships, on humanitarian grounds.
In Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, President of Innocent FishermenƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Association, Arulanandam said that the fishermen, arrested on charges of entering the island nationƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s waters, were brought to the court from Anuradhapura where they had been lodged in prison and judge Anthonipillai Jutesen ordered their release.
He said the fishermen were expected to arrive in Rameswaram in a day or two.