Sri Lanka pardons five fishermen from Tamil Nadu sentenced to death

Rameswaram/ Colombo: The five Tamil Nadu fishermen sentenced to death by a Sri Lankan court for alleged drug trafficking were released on Wednesday after pardon by President Mahinda Rajapaksa pardoned them. They are likely to return home on Thursday.

“We are pleased to confirm that five Indian fishermen, who were sentenced to death by the Hon’ble Colombo High Court on October 30, were today released from prison for being sent back to India,” the Indian High Commission said. “We are deeply grateful to His Excellency Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa,” it said.