Nov 09, Colombo: Sri Lanka Navy today arrested 83 illegal migrants bound for Australia and handed them over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for further investigations.

A fast Naval Patrol Craft attached to the Southern Naval Command has intercepted a multi-day fishing trawler in the early hours of Friday with the 83 people onboard about 15 nautical miles off Mirissa, a coastal town in the south.

The arrested, 48 Tamils, 32 Sinhalese and 3 Muslims have been escorted to Galle Harbor to hand them over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

The group of 78 men, and 5 women, were residents of Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Chilaw, Batticaloa, Nuwara Eliya, Wattala, Wennappuwa, Matara and Hambantota.

Despite Sri Lanka Navy's efforts and Australia's recent measures to return asylum seekers, attempts by would-be asylum seekers continue.

Australia, after enacting its new policy of sending asylum seekers to detention centers in offshore islands, has sent 186 Sri Lankans home this year.