Sri Lanka Navy Arrests 123 Persons Illegally Heading for Australia

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