Colombo: Sri Lankan Navy on Sunday rescued about 138 Bangladeshi and Myanmar nationals from a distressed vessel off the island’s eastern coast.
One passenger was found dead, while many other rescued from the boat were dehydrated, Naval spokesman Kosala Warnakulasuriya said.
Among those rescued were three women and three children.
The fishing craft was spotted off the eastern waters and it was not immediately clear where the vessel was headed or whether they were asylum seekers, he said.
“We sent three ships for the rescue at a location 50 miles off the eastern coast of Akkaraipattu,” Warnakulasuriya said.
“Some have been admitted to a local hospital. Others are being taken to Colombo.”
“We have not been able to get much information about their port of origin or the destination, but we have asked the embassies of the two countries to help us with translations,” the Naval spokesman said.
Sri Lanka in the recent years stepped up its Naval patrol to deter illegal immigration rackets to Australia on fishing boats.
Under pressure from Australia the Sri Lankan Navy have arrested more than 1,200 would be illegal immigrants throughout last year.
Source: Zee News
Re 138 bangladesh and myanmar rescue by sri lanka navy boat.
I am a sri lankan born canadian citizen. I can speak bangoli well and I was talking those banglades people thay said, they left fron decnam bangladesh on 11th january around 8pm. they want to go malasiya but on the way after 8 days no food and 9th day thailand navy beated lot. that night thailand navy pull oue boat by thailand navy navy boat to difrent direction and left in middle of the see. after 22nd days they seen sri lanka fisherman boat asked help, than fisherman told to sri lanka navy. finaly sri lanka navy rescue those people we all helped them as much posible.thanks for sri lankan navy. there are 82 bangladesh and 56 mayenmar.
if you need more information pls call me 0094-775298569.