The Sri Lanka Navy rescued 11 individuals, including four women and five children, who were found stranded on a remote sandbank near Thalaimannar while attempting to return from India by sea. The rescue took place on Saturday during routine naval patrols.

The group was discovered in two separate locations. The first consisted of several children aged 2, 11, and 14, along with adults, who were located early in the morning. Navy personnel learned that the group had traveled from Rameshwaram, India, and had reportedly been abandoned on the sandbank by human smugglers. Interviews with the rescued individuals revealed that they were Sri Lankan refugees who had been living in camps at Anaiyr and Okkur in southern India.

In addition to this group, the Navy found a father with two children, aged 11 and 13, stranded nearby. Humanitarian aid was immediately provided to all those rescued to address their urgent needs.

Following the rescue, the survivors were transferred to local authorities for further assistance and processing. The incident highlights ongoing challenges related to unauthorized maritime crossings and refugee movements between India and Sri Lanka. The Navy continues to conduct patrols aimed at safeguarding lives and preventing human smuggling activities in the region.