Oct 23, Colombo: Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry says that they have already started negotiations to get the country men who were arrested in the East Timor seas last week, released.

Sri Lankan Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hussein A. Bhaila said 16 Sri Lankans are now in the custody of the East Timor authorities.

East Timor security forces have arrested the Sri Lankans when they were trying to board an Indonesian vessel to travel to Australia.

Deputy Minister said that the Ministry had asked the Sri Lankan ambassadors in Australia and Indonesia to discuss the issue with the East Timorian officials.