Sri Lanka Navy has apprehended 18 Sri Lankans, who were on an illegal migration attempt to Australia by boat, in the seas off 40 nautical miles off Batticaloa.
The Sri Lanka Navy managed to seize them on a tip off received by intelligence personnel and the suspects were brought to Trincomalee Harbour, the Navy said in a statement today.
Subsequently the personnel were handed over to Criminal Investigation Department - Maritime Division for onward investigations.
The Navy warns the general public not to involve in high risk sea-borne migration to Australia based on false information provided by human smugglers and reiterated that such attempts would finally end up behind bars. Further the Navy reminds of its strong network of intelligence and regular patrols put in place to nip such illegal migration efforts in the bud as the country is very strict with illegal migration attempts.
