More boat people in navy net
A group of 41 persons on an illegal sea passage to the Australian coast was apprehended some 15 nautical miles off the eastern port city of Trincomalee earlier today, a senior naval official said. The group made up of 31 males, five females and an equal number of children were picked up in the high sea along with a fishing trawler in which they intended to sail for Australia, Navy Spokesperson, Kosala Warnakulasuriya said. He added that investigations were currently underway to ascertain the master mind behind the illegal voyage. Some 200 persons attempting to make illegal voyages to Australia have been arrested by the police and navy authorities since the beginning of this month. Several persons who had master minded the voyages have also been taken into custody and at least five vessels detained, according to officials.
