Lankan immigrants bound for Australia stranded in Aceh

As many as 40 immigrants from Sri Lanka have been stranded in Lhoknga in the district of Aceh Besar, in the Sumatran province of Aceh after the engine of their boat broke down, according to an ANTARA News report.

The Lhoknga district military chief, Major Darul Amin, said the boat measuring 17 meters in length and five meters in width, with number TN-1-FV-00455.09, was on its way to Australia from Sri Lanka. Because of engine trouble they could not proceed to Australia and so were stranded in Aceh.

The official had checked the documents of adults, women and children who are still on the boat around 400 meters from the coast of Lhoknga. He had said that the Sri Lankan immigrants are in good health.

However, they cannot disembark the boat yet and are waiting for permission from the immigration office, the officer said.

Migrants from Sri Lanka stand aboard a boat off the coast of Banda Aceh on 13 June. Dozens of Sri Lankan immigrants bound for Australia were stranded off Aceh in northwest Indonesia after their boat broke down, local officials said on 12 June  - AFP