Human skeleton washed ashore in Mannar

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 August 2004, 12:32 GMT]
A human skeleton was washed ashore in Olaithoduvaai, Pesalai, 15 kilometres west of Mannar town Thursday morning, Police said. The skeleton probably belongs to one of the scores of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees from South India who daily embark on dangerous journey's across the sea to Mannar, according to Police.Tamil politicians and government officials in Mannar have urged the governments of Sri Lanka and India to ensure the legal and safe return of refugees to prevent the accidents and hazards of illegal crossings.

Refugees, including women and children, are often abandoned at mid sea by unscrupulous boatmen who charge exorbitant fees for ferrying them from South India to Mannar.

Mannar magistrate N.M.M Abdullah visited the spot where the skeleton was washed ashore.

He instructed Police to send the skeleton for forensic tests.