Sept 16, Galle: Sri Lanka Navy has rescued 52 Australia-bound illegal migrants who were stranded in the deep seas when their vessel developed an engine failure.

Sri Lanka Navy's Offshore Patrol Vessel, SLNS Samudura came to the aid of the stranded illegal migrants about 225 nautical miles off Great Basses in the South Friday (14).

The 52 people have left from Chilaw in a multi-day trawler on 26th July and they ran into trouble when the engine failed on23rd August.

The trawler drifting in the sea for 20 days had been sighted by another fishing trawler and alerted the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources which has sought the Navy's assistance to rescue the passengers.

The rescued passengers have been given food and water and emergency medical care by the Navy and brought to the Galle Harbor.

The would-be asylum seekers included 38 Tamils, 9 Sinhalese and 5 Muslims, the Navy reported.

The Sri Lankan Navy which on humanitarian grounds, has rescued a number of victims from tragedies at sea in its Search and Rescue Region warns the public not to fall for traps laid by the unscrupulous human smugglers.