Aug 07, Trincomalee: The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Tuesday today arrested another 26 illegal immigrants bound for Australia in the seas off the Eastern coast.

A Fast Naval Patrol Craft attached to the Eastern Naval Command has intercepted two multi-day fishing trawlers with 14 and 12 people on board in the seas off the Valaichchenai in the eastern seaboard.

All occupants of the trawlers were males, the Navy said.

The suspected migrants have been brought to Trincomalee Harbor to be handed over to the CID for further investigations.

The Navy has increased vigilance around the country's coasts to prevent human smuggling but the exercise has not been effective in preventing the increasing attempts by would-be asylum seekers.