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Two young British women were allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted in Sri Lanka, it's been reported.

Police have arrested an 'army deserter' after the alleged victims, aged 20 and 21, were abducted from Hantana in the city of Kandy, according to local media.

The women, said to be from Scotland, managed to escape and were taken to hospital where they are undergoing family health training courses, Daily News reported.

Police said that the women had also allegedly been robbed of 122,000 in rupees, which is about £1,200 in cash, and two mobile phones.

When officers arrested the suspect he reportedly had 5,000 rupees (£52) and a mobile phone , which belonged to one of the women.

(Image: Google)

Police media spokesman, ASP Ruwan Gunasekara, told Sri Lankan broadcaster News First , that the alleged kidnap was on April 14.

He confirmed that the 21-year-old foreign national had been with a 20-year-old foreign national when the incident happened.

Three police teams were reportedly deployed and a manhunt launched to find the suspect after the alleged attack.