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An illegal Indian fishing
boat arrested in Sri Lankan waters is escorted by the Sri Lank Navy
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Total of 31 sentenced prisoners under detention in Sri Lanka
were found eligible for transfer to India pursuant to the signing of the
bilateral agreement on transfer of sentenced prisoners between India and Sri
Lanka in June 2010, the Indian high commission in Colombo said . As stipulated in the Agreement, to facilitate the social
rehabilitation of sentenced prisoners into their own country, cases of these
prisoners were duly processed by the Government of Sri Lanka and forwarded to
the Government of India for completion of required formalities on the Indian
side.
On completion of all formalities, these prisoners
have been transferred back to India in two batches. The first batch of 20
prisoners (6 from Kerala and 14 from Tamil Nadu) were earlier transferred
in February-March, 2013, whereas the process of transfer of the second
batch of 9 prisoners to Tamil Nadu was completed between 12 to 15 August, 2013. This brings the total number of prisoners transferred under this
Agreement from Sri Lanka to India, to 29. The Indian High Commissioner
acknowledged the assistance rendered by all concerned departments of the
Government of Sri Lanka and expressed hope for continued cooperation in
this area.
