Chennai:Sixteen fishermen from Rameswaram, who were released from a prison in Sri Lanka after paying fines imposed by a Sri Lankan court, arrived in Chennai by flight on Friday.
The fishermen were among 20 fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on charges of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line and fishing in Sri Lankan waters.
On August 5, 11 fishermen from Rameswaram had ventured into the sea for fishing when they were intercepted and arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy. Similarly, nine fishermen who went fishing on August 12 were arrested on similar charges.
The 20 fishermen were subsequently produced before a Sri Lankan court and remanded in judicial custody.
The court later imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on each fisherman and ordered their release on payment of the fine. All 11 fishermen arrested on August 5 paid the fine and were released. Of the nine fishermen arrested on August 12, five paid the fine and were released, while the remaining four, who could not pay the fine, continued to remain in prison.
Following their release, the 16 fishermen were handed over to Indian diplomatic officials. They were accommodated at a camp and provided emergency certificates by Indian officials to facilitate their return to India.
The fishermen travelled from Colombo to Chennai on an IndiGo flight on Friday. On their arrival at Chennai airport, officials from the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department received them and arranged vehicles to send them to their respective hometowns in Rameswaram.
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