During a special search operation conducted in the western seas off Negombo on the night of June 27, the Navy seized a Sri Lankan multi-day fishing vessel carrying 47 people suspected to have attempted to cross into Sri Lanka illegally by sea.

The Sri Lanka Navy’s Nandimithra vessel conducted a special search operation in the western seas off Negombo on the night of June 27 and  inspected a suspicious Sri Lankan multi-day fishing vessel.

There were 34 adult males, 6 adult females, 7 children, and 5 people suspected of trying to migrate illegally from Sri Lanka to Australia by sea on board the multi-day fishing vessel.

The army took action. The suspects, aged between 1 and 50, were identified as residents of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Wennappuwa, Nattandiya, Chilaw, and Batticaloa.

SLNS Rathnadeepa captured a suspicious local multiday fishing vessel carrying 54 people who were suspected of trying to leave the island for Australia illegally during the search operation conducted in the seas east of Batticaloa yesterday, June 27.Among the apprehended individuals were 52 males including 05 persons involved in this racket and 02 females. Along with the suspects, the fishing vessel used for this illegal act was also held by the Navy.

The suspects held in this operation are residents of Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Mullaitivu and Jaffna, aged 19 to 53. They will be handed over to the Trincomalee Harbour Police for onward legal proceedings.

Meanwhile, the Australian government does not sponsor such illegal immigrants, who are arrested and deported immediately. The Navy urges the public to avoid being convicted before the law by being caught in the trap of smugglers who mislead the innocent to earn fast buck. The Navy also warns the public that their lives could be in grave danger by attempting to make illegal immigration using unsafe vessels.