The Sri Lanka Navy has rescued 55 persons onboard a distressed local multiday fishing trawler on the high seas while attempting to illegally migrate from the country via sea.
The Navy said it rescued the 55 individuals after the boat was caught in a cyclone, on high seas about 390 nautical miles southeast of Hambantota on Sunday (10).
The group of people, suspected to be on an illegal migration attempt to a foreign country, were in a desperate situation when they were rescued at sea. The Sri Lanka Navy brought the rescued group to the port of Hambantota this morning (12).
On Friday (08), the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources alerted the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo established at the Navy Headquarters that a distressed multi-day fishing trawler was adrift on high seas southeast of Hambantota and requested assistance.
Responding to the request for assistance, the Navy promptly dispatched Sri Lanka Navy Ship (SLNS) Parakramabahu to the sea area where the incident was reported, for a search and rescue operation.
Accordingly, the SLN ship reached the distressed fishing trawler and inspected it on Sunday. During the inspection, the Navy realized that the multi-day fishing trawler was drifting very hazardously in rough sea conditions and rescued the desperate group of people aboard, who are suspected to be on an illegal migration attempt to a foreign country.
Among them were; 46 males including 05 human smugglers, 03 females, and 06 children. Upon rescue of them, they were brought ashore by SLNS Parakramabahu expeditiously.
On further inspection, it was observed that the fishing trawler had caught in a cyclone and it was at risk of sinking, as flooding of seawater with damages to the vessel’s hull.
It was further observed that several people in the group were in a critical state without food and water, having been stranded on the high seas for several days, when rescued. The Navy provided necessary first aid and facilities to those people and brought the group to the port of Hambantota. Meanwhile, due to excessive water seepage into the distressed multiday fishing trawler, towing was not possible, thus it was left behind.
The apprehended persons are residents of Trincomalee, Mannar, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Jaffna, and Kalpitiya, from 03 to 54 years of age. They will be handed over to the Hambantota Harbour Police for onward legal action. (NewsWire)