COLOMBO, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka on Sunday arrested 32 Myanmar nationals who were suspected to have fled from India by boat.
Navy Spokesman Lieutenant Commander Chandima Walakuluge told Xinhua that the Myanmar nationals were believed to be minority Muslims who had sought refuge in India four years ago.
He said the Myanmar nationals and two Indians were arrested when their boat reached Sri Lankan waters in the north of the country.
"The coast guard detected the boat and when investigating they found women and children among those on the boat," he said.
The Navy spokesman said the boat was brought ashore and it was found that there were seven women, as well as 16 children below the age of nine, including a 15-day-old child and a four-month-old child.
He said further investigations revealed the Myanmar nationals had obtained temporary asylum in India and their asylum period was due to expire in June.
It is believed the Myanmar nationals fled India with the hope of obtaining asylum in another country.
The Navy said it provided immediate assistance to the families on the boat, including food and medical care, while investigations were underway.
