A search operation carried out by Sri Lanka Navy in western seas off Negombo in the late hours of June 27 has led to the interception of a local multiday fishing trawler with 47 people aboard.
In the search operation mounted on seas off Negombo, SLNS Nandimithra managed to intercept a suspicious local multiday fishing trawler carrying this group of people who were suspected to be attempting to illegally migrate from the island to Australia via sea routes.
Among the apprehended individuals were 34 males including 05 persons involved in this racket, 06 females and 07 children.
Along with the suspects, the fishing vessel used for this illegal act was also held by the Navy.
The suspects held in this operation are residents of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Wennappuwa, Nattandiya, Chilaw and Batticaloa, from 01 to 50 years of age.
They will be handed over to the Colombo Harbour Police for onward legal proceedings.
