The Sri Lankan government on Wednesday released the five Indian fishermen who were sentenced to death in a case of alleged drug trafficking. The fishermen have been handed over to Indian officials and are being brought from Welikada prison to the Indian High Commission in Colombo. The release came after Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa commuted their death penalty. Prison officials said the five fishermen have been handed over to the immigration authorities for further action.
The five fishermen- Emerson, P Augustus, R Wilson, K Prasath and J Langlet - were apprehended in 2011 and were sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court on 30 October for alleged drug trafficking. India had pressed for a pardon and release of the fishermen since it believed that the evidence in the case showed that the fishermen were innocent. India had on Tuesday withdrawn the appeal filed in the Court of Appeal paving the way for Sri Lankan government to process the request for Presidential pardon.
The fishermen in Tamil Nadu expressed happiness after the grant of presidential pardon to the five fishermen from Thankachimadam Rameswaram. The families of the five fishermen were relieved and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Central and Tamil Nadu governments. The local fishermen now hope that the Centre will take steps to get back fishing boats of Tamils detained by Sri Lanka.
The five fishermen- Emerson, P Augustus, R Wilson, K Prasath and J Langlet - were apprehended in 2011 and were sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court on 30 October for alleged drug trafficking. India had pressed for a pardon and release of the fishermen since it believed that the evidence in the case showed that the fishermen were innocent. India had on Tuesday withdrawn the appeal filed in the Court of Appeal paving the way for Sri Lankan government to process the request for Presidential pardon.
The fishermen in Tamil Nadu expressed happiness after the grant of presidential pardon to the five fishermen from Thankachimadam Rameswaram. The families of the five fishermen were relieved and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Central and Tamil Nadu governments. The local fishermen now hope that the Centre will take steps to get back fishing boats of Tamils detained by Sri Lanka.