Tuesday, May 23 2006 14:11 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Rameswaram (TN): A record number of 234 SriLankan refugees arrived at different places on the Indian coast today (May 23, 2006), officials sources here said.

"People belonging to 52 families from Trincomallee landed at Arichalmunai, Pesasumunai and Olaikuda early this morning," they said.

"With this, the number of refugees reaching the Indian coast ever since the influx of refugees started on January 12 this year has touched 1,639," they added.

The maximum number of refugee arrivals on a single day was recorded today. On May 18, 101 people had arrived from Trincomallee.

The refugees were taken to the Mandapam transit camp near here.