Aussie bound 113 arrested in Colombo

28 May 2012 05:06 am - 30 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Around 113 people have been arrested on the shores of Negombo and Galle face this morning after they were found attempting to flee the country to Australia, the Police said.

The Police have also taken six agents who were suspected to have organized the ‘migration’ into custody. The people who were arrested were reported to have been residents of Negombo and Chilaw and paid a sum of 200,000 each for the voyage.

The main suspect who had organized the voyage is said to have netted a total of around 30 million from the people. The Police have also taken seven Dolphin vans and a lorry suspected to have been used to transport the people towards boarding point into custody.

The Police are conducting further investigations into the incident.

Pix by Nisal Baduge

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Comments - 30

senanayake Monday, 28 May 2012 12:40 PM

Grass is always Greener on the other side. That's human nature.
You ask any ordinary Citizen you meet on the streets in India, Pakistan & Sri Lanka of what they think about the USA and pat comes out the hatred.
But, you ask them which country they would love to go and settle down if possible, pat comes the answer again, USA.

Vijitha Friday, 01 June 2012 08:01 PM

Lanka Lion; Gillard (& her cabinet) are not from Sri Lanka Like us. They have different views on treating refugee children.
I don't think we are even grateful to India for sheltering & looking after 1000s of our refugee children for decades while Indian children starve. Australians and the West are similar to India. This should be our Culture as well.
We may hate them but even if there was a disaster now, It will be India & the West; first , 'waiting in Wings' to help us.
Will take a while for our Friends & Neighbours to be Dragged in.
This is the reason; not only you, even Gota, SF who are doing well in Sri Lanka; still prefer Western money, the Green Card & their attitude towards humanity; for their children.

Chatura Wednesday, 30 May 2012 05:20 AM

Best comment

Lanka Lion- Sydney Tuesday, 29 May 2012 12:58 PM

The Gillard government should be blamed for the influx of boat people into Australia by providing them everything they need including five star hotel accomodation for families with children and expensive homes to stay at the expense of the Australian tax payer. You only have to make it to Christmas Island and you will be welcome with open arms.But you will have to be quick as time is running out for Julia Gillard as she is becoming increasingly unpopular with the aussie voters and her end could be imminent.

MS Tuesday, 29 May 2012 11:04 AM

Look at the things happening in this country. This country always creates VIPs. No equal opportunity is given to every citizen. Armed forces, doctors, politicians and their thugs are VIPs... Can you go and park your vehicle near Sri Mahabodhiya at Anuradhapura? Only so called VIPs are allowed to do so. Only VIP government servants are given tax concessions to import vehicles? What about the millions of tax payers in this country. What about the other private sector employees. You need to accept that there is no justice / fair play and security in this country and that's the very reason why people want to move out.

Rom Tuesday, 29 May 2012 10:09 AM

Looks like you have better sight!!!!!! take your blinds off!!!

Noor Tuesday, 29 May 2012 03:59 AM

Dear Kolla,

our energy and resources you said is high, then shall i ask one thing to you! take the middle east countries for example, these countries are now industrialised mostly, they are paying well salary the workforce than Sri Lanka. So how they manage industrialisation with the high cost than Sri Lanka?

Noor Tuesday, 29 May 2012 03:53 AM

Those all countries you said are in the same boat in terms of Political, if so why people from developed countries are not migrating???? because, there are already developed and have good earning job, much better then those country you said.

senna Tuesday, 29 May 2012 12:00 AM

actually intellectuals are one of main offenders. After benefited from free education for more than sixty years so far they have contributed nothing to the economy and depend on the productivity of poor blue collar workers

Amir Monday, 28 May 2012 03:42 PM

what? do you think they are risking their lives for fun? this shows the true face of the economy and the unemployment rate of our country.

Ruhunu Kolla Monday, 28 May 2012 02:38 PM

Noor, your point is correct, but how to industrialise, when our energy, raw material, machinery and labour cost are not high but extremely high, hence the final cost of the product is so high and it is not competitive in the international market. Being a small country if we do not export, country cannot survive, that is why we are facing a huge balance of payment crisis. Unless the intellectuals of every fields get together and enlighten those narrow minded politicians of both sides how to go forward there is no future for Sri Lanka!

RN Monday, 28 May 2012 01:34 PM

Look at theie faces, they are not proud of what they are doing.
It is the necessity and struggle of life that puts them trrough this.No one wants to leave homeland, family and friends unless they really have to.

Ami Monday, 28 May 2012 01:35 PM

I strongly disagree ! Find out the details about Christmas Islands and Cairns detention centres ! People suicide, go on hunger strikes, riots etc etc ...it's not a bed of roses afterall !

Ami Monday, 28 May 2012 01:27 PM

Address the root cause...don't just show these innocent faces who have tried to earn a buck to make their ends meet !

senanayake Monday, 28 May 2012 12:45 PM

This is not something that is only affecting Sri Lanka.
Even in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and most African countries the mentality of the Human Beings is the same - HUMAN NATURE.
This is NON-POLITICAL.

Chandika Monday, 28 May 2012 06:03 AM

Wonder why these guys want to ‘FLEE’ the Miracle of Asia?..

K.Kalaiselvan Monday, 28 May 2012 12:26 PM

Ask also why you Defence Minister took up USA citizenship and then returned only when his brother took power????

perumal Monday, 28 May 2012 12:09 PM

Just the thing I was going to ask!

CITIZEN Monday, 28 May 2012 11:46 AM

NOT ONLY GOOD JOB . BUT THE EARNING SHOULD MEET THE DAY TO DAY SOARING PRICES AND ADDITIONAL TAXES .IF THESE ARE NOT MET DEFINITELY EVERYBODY WILL LEAVE THE PLACE.

Noor Monday, 28 May 2012 09:25 AM

Raymond Punchisingho, I dont agree with you, it is very simple to justify, why people are trying to leave the country, simply it is due to jobless and better earning, whatever said, if we have good job, no one will leave the country, to achieve that you should make Sri Lanka industrialise, to industrialise, you need strong government with good economic feature, this is possible only when the corruptions from politician is eliminated or reduced from the country.

sangakkra Monday, 28 May 2012 09:02 AM

At one time our people fled - green card citizens in the US. These must be just people unable to fit into society trying to leave for better life.

Raymond Punchisingho Monday, 28 May 2012 08:22 AM

Is it not Sri Lanka's shame that the majority of its people think that a better future can be obtained by going abroad and serving a foreign country, even if it means becoming a 2nd or 3rd class citizen?

Is it also not Sri Lanka’s shame, that, the majority believes that, norms of justice, fair play and equal opportunity, are better served in foreign climes, than in Sri Lanka.

These aspirations are not solely limited to the economically down-trodden, but also the USA Green Card holders in the very highest echelons of current Sri Lankan society.

Who is to blame? Is it the culture, the religion, the caste system, sycophancy, condoning of thuggery, lack of basic respect for others, nationalism or even the misguided concept of patriotism. Don't blame the politicians alone, they were elected by the people.

Is it proper to hide the truth under the excuse of patriotism? To me the truth is more sacred than patriotism.

Tintin Monday, 28 May 2012 08:16 AM

More fault lies with Australia. Everything is free, once one reaches their shores. Julia Gillard has no issues. Plenty of tax payer and mining money to fund these economic migrants. Boat people fabricate nice stories. Pay a few bribes to get some 'genuine documents' and they are through.

Ralph Anthony Kernr Monday, 28 May 2012 08:09 AM

It is the responsibility of "Miracle Of Asia", that this unfortunate incident occurred.

PKR Monday, 28 May 2012 07:51 AM

No wander, your name 'blindside" suits you very much.

Private Eye Monday, 28 May 2012 07:47 AM

One normally flees the country of birth if you feel that there is no justice / fair play and security. Whilst the mode of fleeing is not acceptable, the fact that there are people willing to pay such large sums of money to escape the country should be an eye opener to us all.

kalum Monday, 28 May 2012 07:46 AM

Let them to go where they belong.do not stop them.

THE UNDERTAKER Monday, 28 May 2012 07:42 AM

Thank God - Sri Lanka is not country surrounded by any land , otherwise all people would hve fled except the Politician and their henchmens

richardson Monday, 28 May 2012 07:19 AM

Why are they fleeing ,if this is such a wonderful country as the 'some' say

BlindSide Monday, 28 May 2012 06:09 AM

This is due to the poor economy and lack of employment. These are economic migrants looking for a better life.

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Aussie bound 113 arrested in Colombo

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