A group of would-be asylum seekers rescued 390 nautical miles off H’tota

SLNS Parakramabahu carries out rescue mission

The Navy deployed Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV) SLNS Parakramabahu to rescue a group of 55 Sri Lankan would-be asylum seekers in a dilapidated fishing craft approximately 390 nautical miles (722 km) southeast of Hambantota.

SLNS Parakramabahu formerly of the Chinese Navy brought them to the Hambantota port yesterday (12) morning.

A senior Navy Headquarters spokesperson said that the rescue vessel had reached the distressed craft on July 10 and after the rescue they were provided with first aid. According to him, they had been in a desperate situation at the time the SLN vessel reached the multi-day fishing trawler.

Navy headquarters had been alerted to the crisis situation on July 08 after the smugglers’ vessel had been damaged in stormy weather.

The rescued group included 46 males, including five human smugglers, three females and six children.

The apprehended persons are residents of Trincomalee, Mannar, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Jaffna and Kalpitiya, from three to 54 years of age. (SF)