Naval Patrol Craft rescues 43 Tamil Civilians fleeing from LTTE clutches in Mullaithivu

Sri Lanka Navy’s patrol craft rescued 43 Tamil civilians who were fleeing from the LTTE clutches on the 31st of January 2009 around 0730 hrs.

The escapees, belonging to 11 families, consisted of 14 males, 13 females and 16 children, of whom 12 were boys and 4 were girls. They had fled huddled together in two fiber glass boats, seeking assistance from the naval vessels deployed on rescue missions in the Mullaithivu seas.

They had been overjoyed when they finally managed to reach the naval patrol craft despite their boats’ dangerous slow passage due to overcrowding and choppy seas. Upon rescue, the escapees were safely brought to the Naval Detachment at Pulmudai. Naval personnel attended to the group’s immediate basic requirements by providing them with much-needed food and refreshments. Medical treatment was given to those who were found sick and weary by the naval medical personnel.

The escapees expressed their great relief to have been rescued from an ordeal of painful experiences they had received at the hands of a merciless terror outfit which does not care even the International Community’s persistent appeals to let go the innocent civilians in their grip. LTTE’s tyrannical orders, they claim through their first hand experience, do not spare even the sick or the wounded.

Sri Lanka Navy has made special arrangements to receive hapless Tamil civilians fleeing from the LTTE clutches. Naval personnel and vessels along with stand-by rescue and medical teams are on special deployment for this humanitarian assistance mission in the North-eastern seas.



(Courtesy: Sri Lanka Navy)