Sources from Rameshwaram stated that the entire coastal community of Tamilnadu was jolted by a verdict by a court in the Northern Sri Lanka, which earlier in the day imposed a hefty fine of 60 lakh on each of the eight fishermen from Thoothukudi, who were arrested by Sri Lankan Navy on August 18 last for straying into their territorial waters while fishing. Accordingly they had been lodged in Puthalam jail in Northern Sri Lanka since then.
Meanwhile tried at Kalpatti court under the new Sri Lankan Fisheries Law, the case’s verdict which came out on Tuesday, besides slamming the exceptionally high fine amount, also directed that the eight fishermen from Therasapuram area in Thoothukudi should serve a three month prison term, which lasts till January 14, 2019.
As per report the news sent shock waves among the fishing community here and prompted their representatives to urge the Indian government to file an appeal against the Sri Lankan court verdict and take steps to have all the eight fishermen released immediately. Meanwhile S. Emrit, president of the Rameswaram fishermen's association said the first batch of 481 mechanized boats, which put out to sea on Monday returned to the shore on Tuesday with a ‘not-for-loss catch’ on the first day on resumption of work.
