Sri Lanka releases five Indian fishermen on death row after Rajapaksa pardon

Following the pardon, the five fishermen — all from Rameswaram coast in Tamil Nadu — were shifted from the Colombo prison where they were lodged to the Indian High Commission in the city. Confirming the release, a senior official at the High Commission said they are likely to be taken to Chennai on Thursday. “The five are at the Indian embassy in Colombo. Likely to land in Chennai by Thursday,” the official said.

The fishermen — P Emerson, 40, P Agustus, 32, R Wilson, 42, K Prasad, 30, and J Langlet, 22 — were arrested on November 28, 2011 on charges of smuggling heroin from India.

Prasad’s wife Skenitta told The Indian Express that she spoke to her husband over phone. “I could not wait anymore. I should thank the Indian and Sri Lankan authorities for his release. We are leaving for Chennai tonight to receive him,” she said.

An official statement from the Indian High Commission thanked President Rajapaksa for the release of the fishermen by cancelling the death sentence order issued by a high court using constitutional powers. The statement said Sri Lanka’s humanitarian gesture will further strengthen the strong and multi-faceted relations between India and Sri Lanka.

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The statement recalled a telephone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rajapaksa in this regard on November 9, eventually leading to the release of the five fishermen.

High Commissioner Y K Sinha met the five fishermen after their release and was making arrangements for their early return to India, said the official release.