MID-SEA MAYHEM

Ninety four Myanmar nationals die of hunger:

Sri Lanka Navy rescues 32 :

Mahinda P Liyanage Galle Daily News correspondent

Thirty two Myanmar nationals, the only survivors of a group of 125 heading for Indonesia from the Bangladeshi border aboard a make - shift vessel, were rescued by the Navy when the vessel was about to sink in the deep seas 250 nautical miles east of Sangamankanda on Saturday.

The rest of the group numbering 94 died at sea from hunger after being marooned for 25 days and their bodies were thrown to sea. The survivors were brought to the Galle harbour by the Navy and handed over to Galle Police. The vessel was about to sink when Navy personnel reached it.

The group that included 31 adults and a boy were rescued by the Navy offshore patrol vessel Sagara attached to the Southern Naval Command on information by some Sri Lankan fishermen who had noticed their plight at deep sea.

When the Myanmar nationals were taken on board the Navy ship, all had been suffering from dehydration and four were seriously ill. They were provided with emergency medical treatment on board by Navy medical staff.

The victims were sent to the Galle Karapitiya Teaching Hospital for treatment. Police investigations revealed that two months and five days ago, 125 Myanmar nationals residing on the Bangladesh border had started a sea journey to Indonesia in a wooden sail boat powered by an out board engine.

On their way, the vessel had run into distress. Since then, they had spent 25 days at sea till they were rescued by the Sri Lanka Navy during which period 94 died of hunger. The survivors had thrown the bodies into sea. Ven Maligawila Assagi Thera of Galle Sri Gnanobhasa Meditation Centre helped Galle Harbour Police in the inquiries by interpreting the statements made by Myanmar nationals. Galle Police are investigating.