71 Lankan Tamil refugees land in Rameswaram

Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, May 20 (UNI) Seventy-one Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka, including 29 women and 12 children, arrived at this coastal town today.

The refugees belonging to 24 families were from Trincomalee, Killinochchi, Jaffna and Kodikamam areas, official sources said.

With this, a total of 945 refugees have arrived in Tamil Nadu since January last, following the outbreak of hostilities between the Lankan army and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

All the refugees had been lodged in the refugee camp at Mandapam after verification.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports said at least five refugees drowned in a boat capsize off the Indian coast. The boat reportedly overturned due to overload.

Naval personnel have launched a search operation using three mechanised boats, reports said.

UNI XR-AKN YA DS1445