18 Australia-bound illegal migrants arrested

At least eighteen  Sri Lankans, who were on an illegal migration attempt to Australia by boat, in the seas off 40 Nautical Miles off Batticaloa arrested by Navy yesterday morning, Navy said. 

The migrants have left from Valaichchenai onboard a Multi-Day Fishing Vessel named “Blue Star”. The Navy managed to seize them on a tip off received by intelligence personnel and the suspects were brought to Trincomalee Harbour. Subsequently the personnel were handed over to Criminal Investigation Department - Maritime Division for onward investigations.

Earlier the Navy issued warnings to the general public not to involve in high risk sea-borne migration to Australia based on false information provided by human smugglers and reiterated that such attempts would finally end up behind bars. "Further the Navy reminds of its strong network of intelligence and regular patrols put in place to nip such illegal migration efforts in the bud as the country is very strict with illegal migration attempts," a statement from the Navy said.