Police foil another bid to migrate to Australia illegally

By Norman Palihawadane

Police yesterday nabbed 43 persons who were staying at a hotel in Unawatuna to migrate to Australia illegally by boat.The arrests were made by the Habaraduwa Police with the assistance of the Navy. All 43 suspected illegal migrants are residents of Jaffna. Among them were 33 men, seven women and three children.

The group had stayed in different places for about a month with the hope of going to Australia from Pulmoddai, police said. Later, claiming to go on a five-day trip, they had come to Unawatuna.The suspects would be produced before the Galle Magistrate, police said.