Another 147 illegal migrants arrested

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

The Navy yesterday arrested 147 persons illegally bound for Australia in two multi-day trawlers.

This brings the total number of asylum seekers apprehended by the Navy during this year to 1,310. The latest detections were made in Beruwela and Chilaw.

One of the trawlers named “Jethsamany” was seized by the SLN with 66 persons including 64 Tamils and two Sinhalese on board. It was intercepted 22 nautical miles off Beruwala.