Sri Lanka: Navy Intercepts Trawler Illegally Headed for Australia

Sri Lanka Navy intercepted a multi-day trawler illegally headed for Australia in the rough seas 35 nautical miles east of Batticaloa on 17th July 2012. The intercepted trawler was brought to Trincomalee harbor with 41 persons onboard that included 35 men, 04 women and 02 children for handing over to the CID for further investigations. The arrested persons are from Batticaloa (38) and Valachchenai (03).

The trawler, named “Russel Putha”, was detected by a Fast Naval Patrol Craft attached to the Eastern Naval Command. The arrest is the fifth made by the Navy within 08 days in Sri Lanka’s Eastern waters.

Navy’s vigilance has been able to avert 05 human tragedies in the prevailing rough seas and save the lives of 334 persons that included 314 men, 11 women and 09 children.

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Source: Sri Lanka Navy, July 19, 2012