Fishermen return home after six-month ordeal in SL prison

After a harrowing six-month ordeal in a Sri Lankan prison, two fishermen from Srikakulam district have finally returned home. Dasari Venkaiah (35) and Ganagalla Korlayah (33) were arrested by the Sri Lankan Coast Guard on June 25 for inadvertently crossing the maritime boundary.
The Indian Embassy in Sri Lanka informed Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu about their release on Friday. The news brought immense relief to their families and the local community. The fishermen, residents of Peda Ganagallavanipet, had migrated to Chennai in search of work. They embarked on a fishing trip with six others, unaware that they were venturing into Sri Lankan waters. Their boat collided with another, leading to their arrest.
Local leaders, including Srikakulam MLA Gondu Shankar, intervened and brought the matter to the attention of Rammohan Naidu. The Minister, in collaboration with the MLA, provided immediate support to the families and advocated for the fishermen’s release with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
“The safety and well-being of our citizens are paramount,” said Rammohan Naidu. “We worked tirelessly with the Ministry of External Affairs to secure their return.” MLA Gondu Shankar expressed his relief, stating, “This incident highlights the vulnerabilities faced by our fishermen. We are grateful they are back with their families.” The Indian Embassy facilitated the fishermen’s release after extensive negotiations with Sri Lankan authorities. They were transported to Colombo and subsequently flown back to India.
Their return was met with jubilation in Peda Ganagallavanipet. Families and local leaders expressed gratitude to the officials who made their return possible. “We are forever grateful to Rammohan Naidu and S. Jaishankar for their efforts,” said a family member.
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