Navy intercepts Australia bound illegal immigrants

Mahinda P. Liyanage - Galle Daily News Corr.

Fifty four persons illegally bound for Australia in a multi-day trawler last Thursday were nabbed the Sri Lanka Navy. A Fast Naval Patrol Craft of Southern Naval Command had intercepted the trawler, “Ranahansi” 20 nautical miles off Weligama.

Among the arrested persons are three Sinhalese (Crew members), and 51 Tamils including 36 males, seven females and 11 children, all are residents of Jaffna and Mullaitivu. The crew members are from Mirissa.

The alleged illegal migrants have been escorted to the Galle Harbour by the Southern Naval Command who was making arrangements to hand over them to the CID for further investigations.