Just in: Five Tamil fishermen who were arrested in Sri Lanka for allegedly smuggling drugs in 2011 have been given the death sentence. The fishermen have been given until November 14 to appeal before the Sri Lankan Supreme Court.

The five fishermen from Rameswaram set out to sea from Pamban on November 28, 2011. A few hours after they crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line to fish in Sri Lankan waters, they were picked up by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Instead of following the established convention in such cases -- as both India and Sri Lanka have been doing in the recent past -- the Sri Lankan authorities charged them with smuggling narcotic drugs into the country.

In Sri Lanka, drug use is rampant, and the government has stringent punishment for the offense.

More than 40 Indians are in Sri Lankan jails for trying to smuggle in drugs, and some have already completed over 15 years in prison.