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National

Pair arrested over alleged hit-and-run that killed 20yo international student

Sri Lankan student Nisali Perera was killed in Thursday's alleged hit-and-run.

Police have arrested a man and a woman over an alleged hit-and-run that killed a 20-year-old international student near Melbourne's Monash University on Thursday.

Nisali Perera died at the scene after being hit by a car allegedly speeding through a red light near the university's Clayton campus.

Originally from Sri Lanka, Ms Perera was studying commerce and business psychology in Melbourne.

Police launched an appeal for public help to find Shayne Cochrane, 37, and Lauren Hindes, 33, who were spotted on CCTV near the scene of the fatal incident on Thursday.

Detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit arrested the pair in Officer, in Melbourne's outer-south-east, on Tuesday afternoon.

"They are currently in custody assisting with their enquiries," a police spokesman said.

Charges are yet to be laid over the fatal incident.

Police said on Monday that Ms Perera's parents were "absolutely devastated" by the loss of their only daughter.

"They were so proud of her and the fact that she had made her way to Australia. An Australia that she loved," Detective Inspector Stuart McGregor said.

"She loved her family and she prioritised her family at all times. She was a kind and sociable person and she loved being here in particular."

Investigators said it appeared she had been hit by a dark-coloured Mazda that was later found abandoned nearby.

Inspector McGregor said Ms Perera was "doing everything right" and was going through the Wellington Road crossing on a green signal but the driver of the car "didn't do the right thing" and kept driving

On Tuesday morning, Monash University vice-chancellor Margaret Gardner said it was "a tragic loss of a student life".

"It had, of course, a big impact on the community. We mourn anyone of our number who was lost in that way," she said.

"It had a particular impact on those who lived with her, those who studied with her and of course her family who are dealing with this loss."

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