More northern Sri Lankans flee to India over high cost of living

COLOMBO (News 1st); The second group of ten Sri Lankans had reached India late on Tuesday (22) night, after a group of six Sri Lankans, including three children, were stranded near an island off the coast of Rameswaram and rescued by the India Coast Guard.

The group of 10 had traveled by boat to Dhanushkody, India and upon their arrival, they are detained by the Tamil Nadu Police.

The group had reportedly ventured into sea on Monday (22) morning and developed a technical snag en route and they had to spend almost the entire day repairing it midsea before reaching near the Pamban bridge in Rameswaram.

News 1st correspondent in Rameswaram said that the group, including five children and three women, were detained upon their arrival at the Northern Fisheries harbour.

It was reported that the refugees were fleeing unemployment and a shortage of food in Sri Lanka.

"The prices are very high and we cannot afford it," said one man when he reached India by boat.

In total, 16 Sri Lankan nationals, all from the Jaffna and Mannar regions in the north, reached Tamil Nadu in two batches.