Mar 07, Galle: Sri Lanka Navy arrested 54 illegal migrants bound for Australia today 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 Thursday (07) with the 54 people onboard in the sea off 20 nautical miles off of Weligama.

The group of 3 Sinhalese and 51 Tamils included 36 men, 7 women and 11 children. They are being escorted to Galle Harbor to hand them over to the CID for further investigations, the Navy said.

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