Fishermen not fined - Lankan Mission in Chennai

CHENNAI: Referring to the news item 'Indian Navy hands over 12 fishermen' in the Daily News of June 27, the Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka in Chennai said.

"From the time the two Sri Lankan fishing vessels were apprehended by the Indian authorities, it was the Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in Chennai which extended all necessary assistance and support to the crew members and coordinated their repatriation to Sri Lanka with the assistance of relevant Indian authorities, especially the Tamil Nadu Government authorities and officials.

At no time were the fishermen fined by the Courts and required to pay Rs. 50,000, as stated in the above report, as the Government of Tamil Nadu, based on the recommendations of the Joint Interrogation Committees, withdrew the cases which resulted in the release and repatriation of the two fishing vessels and the 12 crew members."