29 illegal migrants remanded until June 06

A total of 29 males who were part of an arrested illegal migrant group have been remanded until June 06.

The suspects were part of a 41-member crew which comprised eight children and four females, which was heading towards Australia on May 05.

The children were released from all charges without a hearing while the females were released on surety bails of Rs 100,000 each by the Galle Chief Magistrates Court yesterday (May 26).

Residents of Chilaw, Kurunegala, Jaffna, Vavuniya, and Batticaloa comprised the illegal migrant group who were arrested with a multi-day fishing trawler.

According to the Navy, the boat carrying the group had capsized 780 nautical miles off Sri Lanka. They were rescued by a Navy patrolling vessel on May 21, Navy said.

Following the arrest, the suspects had stated that they did not have food or water since their boat had capsized. The Navy had then fulfilled their requirement before handing them over to the Coastal Police.