On August 10, 2006 two Sri Lankan fisning vessels Pramoda Putha I and Pramod Putha II were apprehended by Indian authorities with 10 crew members on the charges of entering Indian waters illegally for fishing. The crew members were sentence to prison and in December 22, 2006 they were repatriated by air by the Deputy High Commission in Chennai, India, in coordination with the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But the Indian government confiscated the vessels as per Magistrate ruling.
On June 13, 2007 another Sri Lankan vessel, Devdu Prasansa was also apprehended by Indian authorities with four crew members under same charges. The crews of the vessel were sent back after serving their sentences on October 31, 2007, while the vessel was confiscated by Indian government.
The Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission made several requisition to the Indina government on behalf of these vessels. Based on long-standing relations between Sri Lanka and India, the Sri Lankan authority has released several Indian vessels and fishermen, who were taken into custody by Sri Lankan authorities for poaching in Sri Lankan waters. Recently Sri Lankan government released three Tamil Nadu fishermen on January 11, 2008.
In reply to this act of goodwill the Indian government has now ordered the release of the three Sri Lankan fishing vessels on January 21, 2008. The Sri Lankan government is in the process of liaising with the Indian government and its associated department for the repatriation of these vessels back to Sri Lanka.
