Navy nabs illegal immigrants

A group of 20 Sri Lankan illegal immigrants trying to escape to Australia in a multi day fishing boat named 'St Jude' were nabbed by the Sri Lanka Navy in the deep sea 120 km off the Galle Coast and brought to Galle Port yesterday morning.

The group which included 16 Tamils and four Sinhalese had set off from Negombo on April 22, investigations revealed. Navy headquarters said they were subjected to a medical examination and provided with food and arrangements were made to hand them over to the police along with the boat's six member crew.

The detection made by the Navy was testimony to the effectiveness of the security net thrown around the Sri Lanka coast by the Navy to prevent anyone escaping from the country by sea, the Navy release said.