Australia-bound Tamils arrested by Sri Lankan Navy

COLOMBO: A total of 80 would be asylum seekers to Australia, all of them Tamils, were arrested in Sri Lanka's northern region by the Navy today.

The arrest came as the group was departing Point Pedro in the northern Jaffna peninsula, Naval spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya said, adding that among the arrested, 38 were men, 28 women and 14 children.

Warnakulasuriya said all of them Tamils are being escorted by the Navy to the Kankesanturai harbour and they would thereafter be handed over to the police.

The latest arrest of would be asylum seekers to Australia came after over 100 such people have been arrested last week.

Australia had sent back at least 1004 Sri Lankan illegal immigrants since mid August last year.