COLOMBO - A Chinese woman was arrested at Sri Lanka's Bandaranaike International Airport on Friday carrying over 30,000 dollars worth of gem stones, officials said.

The media unit of the airport customs office said that the gems were found inside the luggage of the 35 year old Chinese woman.

Officers checked her luggage on suspicion when she was preparing to board a flight to Shanghai and the gem stones were found inside.

The woman pleaded innocent saying she did not know that gem stones could not be taken out of the country undeclared.

Airport authorities had found that she had travelled between Sri Lanka and China on at least four occasions.

The airport customs department said further investigations are underway.