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44 asylum seekers arrested

11 Sep 2011 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Sri Lanka Navy arrested 44 persons who were heading to Australia in a trawler in the seas off Kalmunai this morning, Navy spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya said.

“The craft had left from Negombo and the place where the persons boarded the trawler is yet to be established. We would be bringing them to Trincomalee for further investigations to be carried out by the navy,” he said.

Four children and a woman were among those who were taken into custody by the Navy today. They also found dry rations and water stocked inside the trawler.

The Sri Lanka Navy has advised Sri Lankans in the recent past not to fall into traps laid by human smugglers and take perilous risks at sea seeking illegal entry into Australia.

According to the Navy, illegal sea travel to Australia is a futile effort which will end up with the immigrants being sent to Malaysia. The Malaysian and the Australian governments reached an agreement where illegal asylum seekers heading to Australia will be handed over to Malaysia for determination of their refugee status.

The Navy has begun a special operation to prevent human trafficking. Most people who are smuggled through Lankan waters are sponsored by Sri Lankan citizens who are already living abroad and supporting LTTE activities. (Supun Dias)

Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

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44 asylum seekers arrested

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