Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) said today that it has strengthened its surveillance operations to nab illegal migrants with the support of the Sri Lanka Air force (SLA) and the Australia’s Operations Sovereign Borders (AOSB).

According to Defence.lk, Navy Spokesman Lieutenant Commander Isuru Sooriyabandara has said that over 175 illegal immigrants were nabbed by Navy in 2019 and there was a sharp increase in Sri Lankan illegal migrants to Australia and New Zealand in last year.

He said average of over 64 Sri Lankans had tried to flee the country illegally in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

“But, 175 illegal migrants had left our shores only in last year. They are mainly from Chilaw, Batticaloa, Dondra and Trincomalee,” he told a press briefing.

The spokesman said that some of the migrants were taken into the custody while they were preparing to flee the country and the majority of them were apprehended in the mid sea following Naval intelligence information.

The spokesman quoting AOSB Commander Major General Craig Furini said that both Sri Lankan and the Australian Governments were sharing a strong relationship and continue to work together to thwart human smuggling operations and to prevent people risking their lives at sea.

Lieutenant Commander Sooriyabandara requested the local fishing community to support to curb illegal people smuggling operations by providing information to the Navy.

“The SLN will assure to maintain confidentiality on those who provide us information on illegal immigrants,” he said.