At least sixteen Sri Lankan nationals took an illegal passage to India via Mannar in three fishing boats without proper documents yesterday citing the skyrocketing cost of living forced them to leave the country.
Four families that include three males, six females and eight children are currently sheltered in Rameswaram facing legal action followed by inquiries from Indian authorities.
Preliminary investigations revealed they hired fishing boats from Mannar and organized the trip to reach Rameswaram, India. One family had to be rescued by Indian authorities after their boat got repaired near a sand dune in Dhanushkodi, India.
The refugees told the authorities that they could not bear the increased cost of living and shortage of essential items in the country as they resettled after the war came to an end in 2009. (Pix by N.Lohathayalan)
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Customs have detected 228 mobile phones and tabs valued at over Rs 30 million left behind in the duty free shopping complex at the Banaranaike International Airport today, Customs officials said.
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