The Sri Lanka Navy and the Police have launched a joint investigation to search for a missing group of people who came to Puttalam from Mandapam in South India by boat.

Registered under TNI/TN/11/MO/1108 at the Ramanathapuram Fishermen’s Union of India, the owner of this boat has been identified as Chakulhameed Rapigahan, resident of Sethunagar, Ramanathapuram.

The Navy detected the boat that ferried the people from India abandoned in the Battalangunduwa area of Puttalam. The occupants are, however, missing.