Sri Lanka Navy today arrested 81 persons after intercepting two more multi-day trawlers in seas off Point Pedro and Negombo, bringing the total number of persons arrested while illegally heading for Australia to 2,254.

A trawler with 46 persons onboard was taken into custody in the maritime boundary line near Point Pedro. Among the arrested were 41 Tamils, 04 Muslims and 1 Sinhalese, Navy said.

The other boat was intercepted in seas West of Negombo and with 35 persons onboard. They are been escorted to the Modara Harbour, Navy spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya said.