The Sri Lankan Navy has towed a vessel carrying 70 asylum seekers from Sri Lanka to the southern port of Galle, after the boat on which they were attempting to flee on developed engine trouble and sent out a distress signal.
The group of asylum seekers, which included 17 women, 14 children and 42 men was stranded 215 miles south-west of Sri Lanka. According to the Sri Lankan Navy, the asylum seekers were
“handed over to the CID for further investigations”.
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The group were attempting to flee to Australia, with one passenger reportedly having paid over $6,000 to make the perilous journey.
In the last year alone, Australia has deported over 1,300 people to Sri Lanka, as well as sending others to Papua New Guina and Nauru island.