Archives

by Anton Gunasekere

The Sri Lanka Navy and Air force along with the Army and the police have launched a day-night surveillance operation within the boundaries of the northern waters, as a sequel to an urgent directive from Defence Minister Tilak Marapana that the mystery vessel "Contenta Unity" has changed its course from the high seas off the Colombo port towards the Northern peninsula in an attempt to smuggle out undetected loads of 'refugees' who have been in hideouts of Northern accomplices.Minister Marapana told the Daily News that according to vital information he had received from highly confidential sources, urgent instructions had been passed down that the mid sea off Delft island and the uninhabited Katchchativu island be closely monitored since these are two of the most vulnerable areas for the likely spiriting away of those smuggled South Asian 'refugees' who may have escaped the islandwide police dragnet.

A key spokesman for the CID 'who wished to remain anonymous for security reasons' told the Daily News yesterday that according to police intelligence several ships to shore coded transmissions between the crew of the mystery vessel manned by Maldivian crew had been intercepted and vital information obtained after de-coding. "Contenta Unity" was sighted last week off the Colombo harbour but when harbour police gave chase the ship had sped towards the high seas which was away from our patrolling boundaries.

It is the same vessel that has a 350 passenger capacity which is now suspected to be hovering around the Northern waters.

The spokesman further added that the kingpins of the human smuggling ring and a nearly 1,000 South Asian 'refugees' who had already been remanded have been questioned at length.

Out of these interrogations a dossier has been diligently compiled and forwarded to the Attorney General for his urgent approval so that the suspects could be produced in Court after necessary action had been filed.

AG K.C. Kamalasabeyson told the Daily News that as soon as the dossier was scrutinised by his deputies and forwarded to him he will treat it as one of priority and necessary approval will be granted according to the merits and demerits of each case referred to in the files.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Maldivian offshore police said that they were carrying out reconnaissance on the zeroline which is a shallow stretch of sea that separates the two next door neighbours' territorial waters for any suspected vessels close to the nearest islands.

www.crescat.com

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries

Produced by Lake House
Copyright © 2003 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager