The Solomon Islands police are still searching for the four locals who helped a Sri Lankan escape deportation at the Honiara International Airport last week.

While confirming that the Sri Lankan was arrested and is in police custody, police say the four locals are still at large.

According to media reports this was the second time the man escaped deportation, the first being early February.

The Sri Lankan, was said to have worked at the Taj Mahal restaurant at Lunga and has been residing illegally in the country since the restaurant was established.

It is still unclear why he was never found when he first entered the country.