Efforts on for presidential pardon for fishermenIndia making all efforts to secure Presidential pardon for five fishermen

CHENNAI: India was making serious efforts at the highest diplomatic level to secure Presidential pardon for the five Tamil Nadu fishermen sentenced to death by a Sri Lankan court for drug trafficking, officials in the Indian high commission in Colombo said on Friday.
While no official statement was forthcoming from India on the issue yet, Sri Lankan minister Senthil Thondaiman said President Mahinda Rajapaksa had extended an assurance that the death penalty awarded to the fishermen would be commuted.Rajapaksa was ready to reduce the death penalty using his Presidential powers. But, as per the Sri Lankan Constitution, he would not be able to intervene if an appeal was pending. On Tuesday, India, on behalf of the five Indian fishermen, filed an appeal in the Sri Lankan Supreme Court. "The President's message has been conveyed to the Indian government. Lawyers appearing for the Indian high commission are discussing various legal avenues," Senthil Thondaiman told TOI over phone from Colombo. But, officials in the Indian high commission said there was no official confirmation. However, political leaders in Tamil Nadu, including DMK chief M Karunanidhi have thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what they termed was "good news".
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan external affairs minister G L Peiris told the island parliament on Friday that both countries enjoy excellent bilateral relations. "Prime Minister Modi and our President spoke on the phone three days ago. It was an extremely cordial conversation. The Indian High Commissioner met the President in my presence for a very warm engagement," Peiris said.
Observers say that the fishermen issue could well have figured in the dialogues. Peiris said Sri Lanka and India enjoyed excellent bilateral relations. He was responding to opposition suggestions that Colombo had erred in its foreign policy on India and that New Delhi's regard for the island nation had waned.