Aussie-bound Lankans arrested in Puttalam

12 June 2012 12:25 pm

At least 11 people were arrested at a lodge in Puttalam this morning as they were allegedly preparing to sail to Australia illegally, police said.

They said the would-be illegally asylum seekers, who had come to the area yesterday, told police that some of them had paid over Rs.two lakhs to the alleged human traffickers for the illegal journey.

According to initial police investigations, nine of them were from Batticaloa while two were from Mullaitivu. (Hiran Priyankara-Puttalam)