Lankan 'film crew' in Belize to be sent home

Eleven Sri Lankans who had travelled to Belize supposedly to make a movie are being sent back after they were suspected of being involved in human trafficking - using Belize as a springboard to try and get to the United States.

The crew however went on the news - and defended themselves - and boasted of their film-making credentials - saying they wanted to make a movie with the Belize Blue Hole as the backdrop, Belize media reported. 'But it seems their story was just that, a story.

We received an email from a representative of Sri Lanka's Special Media Unit in that country's who confirmed that they are not Sri Lankan movie makers,". 7newsbelize reported.

After a few weeks of doing something close to nothing, and not coming up with any money to rent equipment or a helicopter to shoot that Blue Hole, the Commissioner has decided to send them back.

Film Commissioner Nigel Miguel said that there's been no money forthcoming since they say the prices in Belize are too high.

Miguel said his office has told the Department of Immigration that there's no point in them staying and that they should send them home.

He said all 11 are still in Belize and accounted for, staying at the same hotel where they are not freely allowed to leave because they are considered a flight risk. They are expected to be repatriated to Sri Lanka by the end of this week.