Malta Boat Tragedy Twelfth Anniversary Commemorated in Colombo

(December 29, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The twelfth anniversary of the Malta Boat Tragedy was commemorated at the Ramanathan Hindu Ladies College Hall, Bambalapitiya, Colombo, Sri Lanka on the 25th December, 2008.

Mr. Balwant Singh Khere, the Chairman of the Malta Boat Tragedy Probe Mission, Mr. Gurvinda Singh, Mr. Kuldeep Singh from India and Mr. M..K.P.Chandralal, Chairman, Malta Boat Tragedy Probe Mission (Sri Lankan Chapter) among others attended this meeting.

In the Malta Boat Tragedy 289 youths from India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan were drowned in the international waters in Malta – Sicily channel on the 25th of December 1996 from the 565 young men on the board of ship Yiohan. These youths were fed on false hopes and exploited by the Human smugglers promising them lucrative jobs in western countries.

Ms. Tana de Zulueta the Italian Senator and the member of the European Parliament and Senator Nuccio Lovere are making arrangements for a funeral monument in honour of these victims in the South of Sicily. Italian Government has sanctioned a budget to recover the remains of the dead from the sea.

Religious performance was observed and candles were lit and a documentary video was shown in this commemoration meeting.

Member of the clergy, family members of the victims, well wishers and media participated in this event.

Prior to the commemoration, the Malta Boat Probe Mission delegation met Hon. Minister of Social Services and Social Welfare, Mr. Douglas Devenanda. Mr. Devananda promised to extend his fullest cooperation to the activities of the Malta Boat Tragedy Probe Mission.

The delegation submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Mr.. Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, requesting his assistance to settle the unresolved problems of the victims and their near ones. - Sri Lanka Guardian