The Federal Government has confirmed that 41 asylum seekers have been handed over to Sri Lankan authorities after being intercepted near the Cocos Islands.
It is believed that two boats were intercepted north-west of Australia in late June, but the Government was not confirming their existence.
However, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has now confirmed that one of the boats, intercepted west of the Cocos Islands, was carrying 37 Sinhalese and four Tamils from Sri Lanka.
A statement from the Immigration Minister says the 41 people on board were processed at sea and transferred to the Sri Lankan navy yesterday near Sri Lanka.
The Government says one of the Sinhalese may have a case for seeking asylum but opted to be handed back to Sri Lanka.
The statement also said that all of the people on board were “safe and accounted for” and the boat was not in distress.
Human rights advocates have raised concerns about the fate of the two boatloads of asylum seekers – one of which was said to be carrying 153 people and intercepted off Christmas Island more than a week ago.
The Tamil Refugee Council claims at least 11 of those on the boat near Christmas Island have been tortured by Sri Lanka’s intelligence services, adding there must have been more people on the ship in a similar situation.
The Tamil asylum seekers reportedly fled Sri Lanka to a refugee camp in India before boarding a boat to Australia.
• Young families, elderly worse off under proposed $7 GP co-payment: study
• Solar experts say Australian renewable energy investment being stifled by Government policy
• Thousands attend rallies across Australia to protest the Federal budget
• SkyNews: It’s all down for Abbott
• Mercury: Misplaced compassion threatens us all
• HIGH COURT grants injunction over asylum seeker boat, Fairfax
• Annabel Crabb, The Age: Scott Morrison interview takes on Pythonesque proportions
• Greens blast Abbott Government’s refusal to have royal commission into CBA
• Jeremy Rockliff: Free trade deal a winner for Tasmanian jobs
