The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), during its routine maritime surveillance and patrol operations, today (September 5) provided urgent humanitarian assistance to a group of 8 individuals, including four women and three children, found stranded on a remote sandbank off Thalaimannar.

The group, including children aged 2, 11, and 14, was detected by naval personnel during early morning patrols. Upon identifying the distressed individuals, the Navy immediately provided them with safe drinking water, food and temporary shelter. 

Preliminary inquiries revealed that the group had travelled from Rameshwaram, India and had reportedly been abandoned in the area in connection with an alleged human smuggling operation, the navy said.

The individuals are believed to be returnees from two refugee camps, ‘Anaiyur’ and ‘Okkur’ of Southern India. They are presently under the care of the Navy and will be handed over to the relevant civilian authorities for further action, it said. 

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Navy has provided urgent humanitarian assistance to another group of individuals, a father and his two children aged 11 and 13, found stranded on a remote sandbank off Thalaimannar, during a routine patrol today (5).

With this recent rescue, the Navy has provided assistance to 11 stranded people today alone, including 5 children, 4 women and 2 men. The group is due to be handed over to the Thalaimannar Police for onward action, the Sri Lanka Navy said.