COLOMBO, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan Police arrested eight people on Friday, for attempting to flee illegally to New Zealand by boat, the police media unit said.
The police said the asylum seekers were arrested from Negombo, in the outskirts of Colombo.
The arrested individuals were residents of Negombo and Marawila, in the western province, and Kalmunai and Mullaitivu, in the island's north.
They will be produced before a local court later on Friday.
