Aug 06, Colombo: Sri Lanka police have arrested another 41 people attempting to sail to Australia illegally in the early hours of today.

The police arrested the suspected migrants while they were waiting to flee in a hotel in Wennappuwa, a north western coastal town, about 30 kilometers north of Colombo in North Western Province.

The police acting on a tip have raided the hotel where the suspects were staying, local media reported.

At least 41 persons were taken into police custody while waiting to flee to Australia illegally in Wennappuwa, police said.

The group of illegal migrants comprising 37 Tamils and 4 Muslims were residents of Batticaloa, Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Trincomalee.

The suspects will be produced before the Wennappuwa magistrate Monday.

Wennappuwa Police are conducting further investigations, the police spokesman SP Ajith Rohana said.