A fishing boat flying the Sri Lankan flag docked at the Port, in Reunion, this Sunday, July 31. Six men were on board. The Reunion authorities had been on alert since this morning.
A Sri Lankan fishing boat docked at Port de la Pointe des Galets on Sunday July 31 shortly before 4 p.m.
A Sri Lankan fishing boat arrives in Reunion, Sunday July 31
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According to our information, six men were on board. There would be no wife or child. The boat arrived in the port escorted by two semi-rigid maritime gendarmerie. He had difficulty maneuvering in the dock.
Once at the quay, the passengers disembarked. On the spot, the national police were deployed in large numbers, but also the customs services, and volunteers from the Red Cross to be able to help with the translation.
A Sri Lankan fishing boat arrives in Reunion, Sunday July 31
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Still according to our information, the six Sri Lankans would have asked to submit an asylum application. Two lawyers are on site. From this evening, the six Sri Lankans should be placed in the waiting area.
A Sri Lankan fishing boat arrives in Reunion, Sunday July 31
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Still several nautical miles off Pointe du Gouffre in the morning, the twenty-meter boat was closely watched by the maritime authorities. Around 2 p.m., the boat entered the port.
The prefecture of Reunion and the CROSS (Regional Operational Center for Surveillance and Rescue) had been on alert since this morning.
A Sri Lankan fishing boat arrives in Reunion, Sunday July 31
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For the moment, there is no precision on the journey of this boat and the number of days spent at sea.
In 2018, Sri Lankan migrants arrived in Reunion on makeshift boats, hoping for a better life. They had fled the political instability of their country.
