8 Rameswaram Fishermen Released From Lankan Jail, Reach Chennai

Eight fishermen from Rameswaram, who were released from a prison in Sri Lanka, arrived in Chennai by flight from Colombo on Thursday night. They were received at the airport by officials of the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department, before being sent to Rameswaram.

Nine fishermen from Rameswaram had ventured into the sea in a mechanised fishing boat on October 3. While fishing near Neduntheevu (Delft Island) around midnight, a Lankan navy patrol vessel intercepted their boat. 

The Lankan Navy accused them of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line and fishing in Lankan waters. All nine fishermen were



arrested while their fishing boat, nets and catch were seized.

They were subsequently taken to Sri Lanka and produced before a court before being remanded in custody at the Jaffna prison.

However, the fisherman who had been operating the boat was reportedly a repeat offender. As he had been arrested for a second time, the Sri Lankan court sentenced him to three months in prison. He continues to remain in the Jaffna prison as a convicted prisoner.

Following the arrests, the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government held discussions with the Sri Lankan authorities seeking the release of the fishermen.