Five suspects, including the owner of a multi-day trawler, had been arrested in connection with the alleged assault and torture of a 16-year-old boy in the seas off Mirissa, Police Spokesman SSP Jaliya Senaratna said.

The youth, a resident of Mirissa, who had gone a few weeks ago, was reported to have been physically tortured aboard a multi-day fishing vessel at sea allegedly by the crew members.

The boy who had returned home on August 12 with injuries all over his body, had told his parents that he was tortured for having accidentally dropped a fish caught in the net back into the sea.

It was reported that the boy was physically abused allegedly by the crew since the incident.

The boy is currently undergoing treatment at the Matara Hospital. The suspects were arrested following a complaint lodged with the Police.

Police Spokesman SSP Senaratna said that according to the medical reports, the boy had been severely assaulted during the period he was at sea.

The Spokesman said that a separate investigation was launched on the owner of the boat to determine whether he had earned money irregularly by forcibly engaging children in the fishing industry.

“The Police will take action against the owner of the boat under the Money Laundering Act if was found guilty,” SSP Senaratna said.(DSB)