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And the Indian High Commission in Colombo today responded, saying there have been many instances of the Tamil Nadu Government releasing Lankan fishermen.But this particular issue does not appear to be an “innocent trespass,” Indian High Commission Spokesman Dinkar Asthana told - .“For example, the State Government of Tamil Nadu State has repatriated 43 Sri Lankan fishermen and 15 boats through the Indian Navy over the past one month,” he said.“As regards the Sri Lankan fishermen being held in Andaman, their case does not appear to be that of an innocent trespass. It has become a judicial issue and the decision of the court is awaited,” Asthana explained.

In the midst of Lakan fishermen crossing into Indian waters frequently and vice versa, Asthana noted that “a system has been worked out under which both governments take action independently, to expeditiously process the cases of innocent or inadvertent trespass of their territorial waters by fishermen of the other country and secure their early release, waiving a number of official requirements in the process.”Meanwhile Minister Neomal too said that “our Navi is trying as much as possible to deter Indian fishermen from entering the Lankan territorial waters. Arrest comes as the last option.”Yet in India, the issue of the 21 fishermen had spilled into streets, midst protest campaigns and hunger strikes.Apparently it has also become a centre of subject to play politics.Despite their release, a protest was held in Rameswaram in India by AIADMK supporters on Friday urging the Indian Government to put pressure on Sri Lanka over the frequent arrest of fishermen.

     RAWAYA - Former Secretary to the Treasury Dr. P.B Jayasundara has been granted relief by a majority vote of the Supreme Court to resume government service. Dr. Jayasundara made the application seeking to relieve him from an affidavit tendered to the Supreme Court in the Fundamental Rights Application against the Privatization of the Lanka Marine Service Ltd.He had filed the motion seeking to relieve him from an affidavit dated October 16, 2008 given to the Court stating that he would not in future accept any offices in the Government. The former Secretary to the Treasury stated in his motion that the President had requested him that his service as the Secretary to the Treasury and the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and Planning was required in the national interest.The Seven-Judge-Bench comprising Chief Justice Asoka de Silva, Justice Dr. (Ms.) Shirani Bandaranayake, Justice (Ms.) Shiranee Thilakawardane, Justice Saleem Marsoof PC, Justice Jagath Balapatabendi, Justice K. Sripavan, Justice P.A. Rathnayake by majority vote allowed Dr. Jayasundara’s application. Ms. Shiranee Thilakawardene dissented.Dr. Jayasundara had to submit the affidavit to the Supreme Court stating that he would never accept any state office in the future after the Court made several findings against him, in the sale of Lanka Marine Services shares to John Keels Holdings Pvt. Limited, and also for handing over to John Keels Holdings Pvt. Limited eight and a half acres of land in Colombo, which belonged to the Sri Lanka Port Authority.