Nov 16, Colombo: Sri Lanka Navy Friday arrested 104 illegal migrants headed for Australia from the western shores and handed them over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for further investigations.

A Fast Naval Patrol Craft attached to the Western Naval Command intercepted a multi-day fishing trawler carrying the 104 people in the sea about 25 nautical miles Thuduvai seas.

According to the Navy, the group of 96 Tamils, 6 Sinhalese and 2 Muslims included 81 men, 10 women, 9 boys and 4 girls.

They are residents of Jaffna, Vavuniya, Batticaloa, Puttalam, Colombo, Mannar, Ja-Ela, Negombo, Wattala, Ragama and Kalpitiya.

The illegal migrants have been escorted to Mutwall Harbor to be handed over to the CID for further investigations.

Australian authorities recently warned the Sri Lankan asylum seekers that they will have no visa prospects and will be returned to the country immediately after their arrival.

"You will be sent back on the first available flight home so don't waste your money and don't risk your life. If you do not engage Australia's international obligations, you will be returned very quickly," an Australian official said recently.