The group was trying to leave the island on a fishing trawler bound for Italy.

The navy eventually arrested at least 18 people, all Sri Lankans, off the coast of the northwestern town of Wennappuwa.

The four-member crew of the trawler was also arrested, police said.

Sri Lankan fishermen are known to operate modified fishing trawlers to make the three-week journey to the Red Sea from where the immigrants are transferred to larger ships and taken to Italy.

Those who make it to their destination are frequently arrested or deported.

During July more than 600 would-be illegal immigrants from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh were arrested in what the Sri Lankan authorities believe to be a major international human smuggling racket which is using Sri Lanka as a transit point.

WAR.WIRE