Sri Lanka navy ships discovered four fishing trawlers carrying more than 100 illegal migrants, possibly heading to Australia, a navy spokesman said Tuesday, according to AP. Capt. Athula Senarath said the boats were seized Monday and Tuesday off the island"s southern coast. He said he could not confirm their destination but suggested they may have been headed to Australia. They were still being questioned. Hundreds of Sri Lankans leave by boat each year looking for jobs in more prosperous countries. More than 250 Sri Lankans are held in Indonesia after arriving in recent months, trying to get to Australia. Indonesia has become a major transit point for an increasing number of asylum seekers from war-torn countries such as Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Iraq. Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith visited Sri Lanka early this month and signed an agreement with his counterpart, Rohitha Bogollagama, to cooperate on identifying people smugglers and finding ways to prosecute them.
