Nine Navy personnel who had reportedly jumped ship after taking part in a joint exercise in the United States (US) have been referred to US law enforcement authorities, according to the Sunday Times.
The navy personnel were scheduled to join a Sri Lankan Navy crew to bring a decommissioned US Coast Guard Cutter back home after completing their training programme.
US Authorities were informed in this regard after the Sri Lanka Navy via diplomatic channels and the intervention of the Sri Lankan embassy in Washington and US Coast Guard counterparts took measures to track them down.
Commenting on the matter, a senior Navy official said the navy personnel will have to face inquiries as per naval disciplinary procedures as well.
Meanwhile, a US Embassy spokesperson confirmed that the matter had been referred to US authorities.
“Individuals who break US immigration laws can be subject to arrest, detention, and deportation, and those who accrue unlawful presence in the US can be prevented from returning to the US for up to 10 years,” the US Embassy spokesperson told the Sunday Times.
The Navy personnel in question are part of a crew of Sri Lankan sailors who had travelled to the US to train alongside their U.S. counterparts in October.
They were scheduled to return to Sri Lanka on the P-627- the former U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Douglas Munro which was decommissioned recently from its fleet and given to Sri Lanka under a military aid pact.
This would be the third ship gifted to the Sri Lanka Navy by the US. A Sri Lankan Navy crew consisting of more than one hundred Navy sailors under a Commanding Officer is currently stationed in Hawaii and engaged in training alongside their US counterparts while the former US Coast Guard Cutter vessel was undergoing refit. (NewsWire)