A group of thirteen Tamil youth had been arrested in Lunawa last morning while attempting to illegally set sail to Australia, Police Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said.

The suspects were found at a rest house in Lunawa, Moratuwa where they were staying since May 26.

Police said, an individual from Jaffna had promised them take to Australia for a fee of Rs. 10,000 each and send them to Australia from Moratuwa.

The group was arrested on a tip-off received by the Moratuwa Mobile Police patrol.

The suspects were from Jaffna, Nedunkerni, Mulliyavalai, Jaffna, Mullaithivu, Kilinochchi and Vavuniya,

Investigations are carried out by the Moratuwa Police. (Chaturanga Pradeep)