It was published
Jul 29, 2022 12:39 AM by
Director of Maritime Affairs
Nine Sri Lankan Navy sailors who traveled to the United States to join the Rim of the Pacific exercise have decided to jump ship and stay, according to Sri Lanka’s Economy Next.
The sailors were part of a 50-member team sent from Sri Lanka in June to participate in RIMPAC 2022, the world’s largest military event. After RIMPAC, they were scheduled to assist the crew of a new ship of the Sri Lankan Navy: the former USCGC Douglas Munro, which had recently been decommissioned and transferred to Sri Lanka under a military assistance agreement with other countries. The former Munro has been heavily groomed in the US and is reportedly planning to return to Sri Lanka soon.
His crew may be short, because “nine people are missing,” a Sri Lankan official told a reporter.
The US Embassy in Sri Lanka confirmed the incident and said it has been reported to law enforcement for follow-up.
“People who violate US immigration laws can be arrested, detained, and deported, and those who increase their illegal presence in the United States can be barred from returning to the US for up to 10 years,” the spokesperson said.
