Sri Lankan Navy arrests suspected illegal immigrants

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan Navy today nabbed at least 65 suspected illegal immigrants to Australia, who had left for the voyages from a Kerala port.

Naval spokesperson Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya said they were arrested off the southern coast of Hikkaduwa and were taken to the port in Galle where they were handed over to the police's Terrorism Investigation Division.

A boat carrying them had left the Kochi port, he said. The Kochi police last month arrested Sri Lankan natives when they were about to board a vessel bound for Australia.

The risky voyages to Australia carrying Sri Lankan asylum seekers happen often despite deterrent action jointly launched by Sri Lankan and Australian authorities.

Australia since August had sent back over 1000 Sri Lankan illegal immigrants.