The five Tamil Nadu fishermen, who returned home on Thursday after being incarcerated in a Sri Lankan prison, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for securing their release.
“I thank the Indian Government and Prime Minister Modi, he has given us a second life. I also thank the Sri Lankan President,” said R Wilson, one of the fishermen.
Another fisherman , P. Augustus, who was among those released from the Sri Lankan prison told ANI, “We thank Indian Prime Minister and the Indian mission in Sri Lanka, who worked tirelessly for us.”
The five fishermen from Tamil Nadu were arrested in 2011 and held guilty of drug trafficking. The Colombo High Court had given them the death sentence.
The latest development in this regard took place after Prime Minister Modi intervened in the matter and spoke to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, following which the Sri Lankan authorities decided to release the five fishermen.
—ANI