COLOMBO (NewsRadio); Australia has returned 41 asylum seekers to Sri Lankan authorities after the group was apprehended while attempting to enter the country illegally.
The group was intercepted while headed to Australia on a multi-day fishing trawler and detained on the Christmas Island.
They were deported to Sri Lanka this morning. The Sri Lankans, accompanied by a large contingent of security personnel from Australia arrived onboard the ASY-013 flight at the Bandaranaike International Airport at 9.40am.
A group of officials from the Australian High Commission in Colombo also arrived at the BIA to receive them.
Subsequently, the group was handed over to the Department of Immigration and Emigration.
The majority of the group deported from Australia was residents of Jaffna and Valaichchenai.
Statements will be recorded from the group by the Criminal Investigations Department and will then be produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court.
