Sri Lanka Navy on tenth July 2022 rescued 55 people onboard a distressed native multiday fishing trawler, caught in a cyclone, in excessive seas about 390 nautical miles (722km) southeast of Hambantota.
The group of individuals, suspected to be on an unlawful migration try to a overseas nation, had been in a determined state of affairs after they had been rescued at sea. Sri Lanka Navy introduced the rescued group to the port of Hambantota this morning (twelfth July).
On 08th July, the Division of Fisheries and Aquatic Assets alerted the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo established on the Navy Headquarters {that a} distressed multi-day fishing trawler was adrift in excessive seas southeast of Hambantota and requested help. Responding to the request for help, the Navy promptly dispatched Sri Lanka Navy Ship (SLNS) Parakramabahu to the ocean space the place the incident was reported, for a search and rescue operation.
Accordingly, SLN ship reached the distressed fishing trawler and inspected it on the morning of tenth July. Throughout the inspection, the Navy realized that the multi-day fishing trawler was drifting very hazardously in tough sea situation and rescued the determined group of individuals aboard, who’re suspected to be on an unlawful migration try to a overseas nation. Amongst them had been; 46 males together with 05 human smugglers, 03 females and 06 youngsters. Upon rescue of them, they had been introduced ashore by SLNS Parakramabahu expeditiously.
On additional inspection, it was noticed that the fishing trawler had caught in a cyclone and it was prone to sinking, as flooding of sea water with damages to the vessel’s hull. It was additional noticed that a number of folks of the group had been in a important state with out meals and water, having been stranded in excessive seas for a number of days, when rescued. The Navy offered obligatory first support and services to these folks and introduced the group to the port of Hambantota. In the meantime, on account of extreme water seepage into the distressed multiday fishing trawler, towing was not doable, thus it was left behind.
The apprehended individuals are residents of Trincomalee, Mannar, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Jaffna and Kalpitiya, from 03 to 54 years of age. They are going to be handed over to the Hambantota Harbour Police for onward authorized motion.
Human smugglers use unsafe and dilapidated multi-day fishing trawlers to hold out this nature of sea voyages for the aim of constructing quick cash. Due to this fact, the Navy emphasizes the general public to keep away from being caught in this type of human trafficking rackets and making an attempt emigrate illegally from the nation by endangering their valuable lives.
