Aug 17, Tangalle: Sri Lanka Navy today rescued 30 asylum seekers, who were stranded in the deep seas for several days when their vessel developed a mechanical failure, and brought them to the Tangalle Harbor.

The all-male asylum seekers, 19 Tamils and 11 Sinhalese, have left on a multi-day trawler from Negombo on 18th July. Five days into their trip the vessel had started drifting due to a broken propeller and the group was stranded about 300 nautical miles in deep sea without water and food.

After receiving the information, the Navy has directed another multi-day trawler engaged in fishing in the area to provide assistance to the stranded illegal migrants. A fast naval patrol craft attached to the Southern Naval Command has subsequently rescued the group.

The Naval personnel had provided refreshments and emergency medical assistance to the severely dehydrated group and brought them to the Tangalle Harbor.

The men who are residents of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, Mannar, Chilaw and Negombo have been handed over to the CID for further investigations.

The Navy illustrating the danger associated with these illegal migration attempts reminded the public not to fall for traps laid by the unscrupulous human smugglers.

The Navy just a day before prevented another illegal migration attempt and arrested 43 people in the seas off Trincomalee in the East.