Sri Lanka Navy arrested 85 persons illegally bound for Australia in 02 multi-day trawlers on 23rd September 2012.
A trawler named “Mihara” with 35 persons including 26 Tamils and 9 Sinhalese (33 men and 2 women) on board was intercepted by a Fast Naval Patrol Craft attached to the Western Naval Command 15 nautical miles off Chilaw Seas. The other boat named “Sudu Duwa” with 50 persons including 45 Tamils, 4 Muslims and a Sinhalese on board was intercepted off Point Pedro seas by a Fast Naval Patrol Craft attached to the Northern Naval Command.
The arrested persons are residents of Jaffna, Mullaithivu, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Kalpitiya, Chilaw, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Devundra, Tangalle, Weligama and Mannar. They were brought to Mutwal and Point Pedro Harbours respectively to be handed over to the CID for further investigations.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, September 25, 2012; Image: Sri Lanka Navy