Asia-Pacific News
Sri Lanka arrests 17 migrants aboard Australia-bound fishing boat
Feb 20, 2011, 10:10 GMT
Colombo - Seventeen people attempting to illegally make their way to Australia by boat have been arrested off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, officials said Sunday.
The group was traveling in a fishing trawler, said Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya, a spokesman for the Sri Lankan navy.
Most of the migrants were Sinhalese - the majority ethnic group in Sri Lanka - but also included Tamil and Muslim nationals. They were brought ashore to be investigated.
Australia has implemented a series of measures to prevent Sri Lankan citizens from illegally immigrating, after foiling several attempts last year.
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