Tamil organization says man buried at sea during migrants’ journey to Canada

Group says man died aboard Tamil migrant ship

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The Canadian Tamil Congress says a man died aboard a ship carrying hundreds of Tamil asylum seekers during a grueling voyage that lasted at least three months in a cramped cargo ship.

At least 450 migrants from war-ravaged Sri Lanka arrived in Canada’s Pacific coast province of British Columbia Friday aboard the Thai-flagged MV Sun Sea.

The Tamil Congress’ spokesman Sarujan Kanapathipillai said Sunday that the migrants told his group’s representatives that a man in his mid-30s died last month of unknown causes. His body was buried at sea.

Canada’s top security officials say the ship was modified in order to maximize profits for a human smuggling operation likely organized by the rebel Tamil Tigers.