RAMESWARAM: Twenty four Sri Lankan Tamil refugees are feared drowned when a boat carrying about 35 refugees capsized in mid sea off Sri Lanka Tuesday, according to the driver of the ill-fated boat who swam to safety along with 11 others today.
The boat driver who reached Rameshwaram in southern India told newsmen Wednesday that the incident occurred four hours after they left in the boat from Pesalai in Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile a fresh batch of 2000 Tamil refugees from the Island Republic arrived here Wednesday, according to reports.
The director of refugee’s rehabilitation CK Gariyali told newsmen here Wednesday that the government would accommodate all the refugees whatever be their number. She said Rs 1.5 million had been allocated for construction of six sheds in the camp at Mandapam near here to accommodate refugees.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 20, 1990
