Sri Lanka Navy Rescues 11 Stranded on Thalaimannar Sandbank in Suspected Smuggling Incident
The Sri Lanka Navy rescued 11 individuals, including five children, who were found stranded on a remote sandbank off Thalaimannar on Saturday, Sept. 5. Naval personnel provided humanitarian assistance to the group after discovering them during routine maritime patrols in the area.
Naval authorities initially located eight individuals during an early morning patrol, consisting of four women, one man, and three children aged 2, 11, and 14. The Navy immediately supplied the stranded group with drinking water, food, and temporary shelter. Preliminary inquiries revealed that the individuals had departed from Rameshwaram, India, and were allegedly abandoned on the sandbank as part of a suspected human smuggling operation. Officials believe the group consists of returnees from the Anaiyur and Okkur refugee camps located in southern India.
During a subsequent patrol conducted later on Saturday, naval personnel located another three individuals stranded on a nearby sandbank off Thalaimannar, identified as a father and his two children aged 11 and 13.
The second discovery brought the total number of individuals assisted throughout the day to 11, comprising four women, two men, and five children. The Navy confirmed that all individuals will be handed over to the Thalaimannar Police for further legal proceedings and investigation.
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