By Dinasena Rathugamage
The Northern Naval Command has decided to increase patrols in the North Sea between India and Sri Lanka to detect any suspicious vessels.
The Navy has taken this decision after the increased spread of the coronavirus in many parts of India and the increasing tendency of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in India as well as Indian smugglers to flee to the Northern Province by boat.
The Navy and Police Special Task Force (STF) recently also arrested a Jaffna resident on suspicion of having a coronavirus after he contracted it while smuggling drugs with India.
Investigations have revealed that a large number of people from India are preparing to enter the Northern Province by boat without permission to escape the virus.
It has been revealed that there is a group of organized Indian fishermen and they are charging around 3000 and 4000 Indian Rupees to smuggle one family to the Northern Province. Following this information, the Sri Lanka Navy has increased its search operations in the North Sea area.
