Feb 12, Kalutara: Sri Lanka police today foiled an attempt by a group of people to illegally migrate to New Zealand and arrested 75 people.

Acting on a tip off, the police arrested the 75 people planning to set sail to New Zealand in the wee hours of Wednesday from the southern coastal town of Beruwala, local media reported.

The police also took into custody a bus and a van along with the group.

The group of 60 men, nine women and six children were all ethnic Tamil residents of Batticaloa and Valaichchenai areas in the Eastern Province, the police said.

The arrested people will be produced before the Kalutara Magistrate Court later today, the police said.