Navy apprehends 78 individuals attempting to illegally migrate from the island

Sri Lanka Navy apprehend 78 individuals, suspected to be on illegal migration attempts to a foreign country via sea, during separate search operations carried out in seas off Batticaloa and Kaluwankeni Beach, Batticaloa on the night of 10th July 2022.

Accordingly, the Fast Attack Craft P 491 of the 04th Fast Attack Flotilla in the Eastern Naval Command intercepted and searched a suspicious local multiday fishing trawler, during a search operation in seas off Batticaloa on the night of 10th July 2022. In this search, the Navy apprehended 61 individuals who were suspected to be on an illegal migration attempt to a foreign country via sea. Among the apprehended individuals were; 43 males including 06 individuals in connection to this racket, 07 females and 11 children. The Navy also held the local multiday fishing trawler used for this illegal sea voyage.

Twenty one (21) of those people held by the Navy off Batticaloa were brought to Trincomalee Harbour by an SLN Fast Attack Craft this morning (11th July). Meanwhile, the other 40 persons along with the fishing trawler are currently being brought to Trincomalee Harbour as well. They will be handed over to the Trincomalee Harbour Police for onward legal action.

Meanwhile, SLNS Kashyapa in the Eastern Naval Command and Kalawanchikudi STF mounted another search operation in the beach area of Kaluwankeni, Batticaloa in the dark hours of 10 July. The coordinated operation led to the apprehension of 17 individuals who were suspected to be remaining at the beach with the intention of illegally migrating to a foreign country by the aforementioned fishing trawler. There were 16 males and 01 female who are from 22 to 50 years of age, in the group of apprehendees. The raiding party also seized a van during this operation.

The individuals held in Kaluwankeni were identified as residents of Jaffna, Batticaloa, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Kurunegala. The suspects along with the van were handed over to the Eravur Police for onward legal action.

It is observed that human smugglers organize this kind of rackets using unsafe vessels for the purpose of making fast money. Against such backdrop, the Navy urges the public to refrain from risking their lives by engaging in perilous sea voyages and be victims before the law.