Sri Lanka Navy Arrests 123 Persons Illegally Heading for Australia

Sri Lanka Navy arrested 123 persons illegally bound for Australia in 2 multi-day trawlers on 29th August 2012. One of the trawlers arrested is named “Lankamatha” and it was intercepted 8 nautical miles off Chundikulam by a Fast Naval Patrol Craft attached to the Northern Naval Command. It had 61 persons onboard including 60 Tamils and 1 Sinhalese.

The other boat named “Judia” was intercepted 21 nautical miles off Batticaloa by a Fast Naval Craft attached to the Eastern Naval Command. The boat had 62 persons onboard that included 57 Tamils, 4 Sinhalese and a Muslim.

They were escorted to Point Pedro and Trincomalee Harbour respectively to be handed over to the CID for further investigations.

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Naval Today Staff, August 29, 2012; Image: Sri Lanka Navy