Navy apprehends 14 illegal migrants

A troop of Naval personnel attached to the Southern Naval Command in coordination with Police STF-Katharagama, apprehended 14 Sri Lankans, who secretly stayed at a lodge in Thissamaharama on an illegal migration attempt to Reunion island by boat, on 14^th Feb 2019.

This apprehended group consisted of 03 children, 03 ladies and 08 men and they are residents of Chilaw, Negombo, Kuliyapitiya, Bangadeniya, Thissamaharama and Delgoda areas. At the time of apprehension, they possessed dry rations and cooking utensils made ready for a voyage. A Toyota Corolla car and a Dimo Batta lorry which are suspected to be owned by the smugglers have also been taken into Naval custody.

The suspects, dry rations, cooking utensils and the vehicles were handed over to Police STF-Thissamaharama for onward legal action.