Rs 26 Lakh To Release One Fisherman? That’s What Sri Lankan Court Charges, But Tamil Nadu CM Wants It ‘Free’ 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was urged by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Eddapadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday ( October 17) to put pressure on the Sri Lankan government to organise an effective defence in the Sri Lankan courts to release eight Indian fishermen without serving a jail term or paying a fine.

The Sri Lankan Coast Guard arrested the fishermen on 21 August on the pretext of them illegally wading into Sri Lankan waters and fishing. They were convicted by a Lankan court under the provisions of Fisheries (Regulation of Foreign Fishing Boats) Act, for illegally fishing in Sri Lankan waters and imposed a fine of LKR 60 lakh per head (Rs 26 lakh). The court also ordered a three-month prison term if the penalty was not paid.

“I am writing this letter with deep concern regarding a new development in which a Sri Lankan court has imposed fine on our fishermen,” Palaniswami said in a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, as reported by TOI.

Steps were taken by the Centre with the complete support of the Tamil Nadu Government to find a permanent solution to this issue. The verdict delivered by the Lankan Court was a mockery of the diplomatic efforts made by the Indian government to solve the problem, the Chief Minister said, adding, “This has created a sense of panic in the minds of the fishermen in Tamil Nadu.”

Fisheries minister D Jayakumar had previously condemned the verdict saying, “The fishermen ventured into the sea to eke out a livelihood. It would not be possible to pay the fine even if they engaged in fishing throughout their life. The imprisonment and imposing of a fine is unacceptable and condemnable.”