Australian Navy arrests illegal Tamil migrants

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20100802_03

Australian Navy arrests illegal Tamil migrants
Refugee ship to Canada closely watched

The Australian Navy arrested 81 Sri Lankan Tamils for trying to illegally enter Australia on the maritime boarder near Christmas Island yesterday (1 August).
According to Sri Lanka's External Affairs Ministry spokesman, the boat was spotted close to Christmas Island and on the verge of sinking when the Australian Navy rescued it.
The rescued boat people were brought ashore along with the boat. They have been sent to hospital for treatment. The Australian Navy arrested the boat owners and are conducting further investigations.
Meanwhile, Canadian authorities are preparing to handle any situation that may arise from the arrival of a migrant ship carrying Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in Vancouver Island. They are due to arrive within the next few weeks at the British Columbia's coast.
The Canadian Defence Ministry said it is prepared to intercept the ship, reportedly carrying about 200 suspected asylum seekers including women and children from Sri Lanka.
"We are watching very closely. We are preparing for any inevitability and we are working closely with the international community, most notably with the United States of America," Canada's Defence Minister Peter MacKay told Canadian media.
"We'll have ships in Canadian waters as they approach, and then an assessment will be done with information we currently hold and anything we'll be able to garner from direct contact," the Defence Minister said.
According to the authorities, when intercepted, the ship would be brought to Vancouver Island, where the Immigration and Refugee Board would process those on board.
Courtesy : The Official Website of the Government of Sri Lanka