Australia returns 29 Sri Lankan asylum seekers

Australia has returned 29 Sri Lankan asylum seekers who attempted to enter the country illegally and they arrived in the island yesterday.

The Sri Lankans asylum seekers are said to be residents of Matara, Hambantota, Hakmana and Tangalle.

Among them were two boys aged 12 and 15. They have been taken to Australia by their father and an uncle.

The group had left Sri Lanka for Australia by boat on 17 November. Australian border agents arrested the group when they arrived at the Lear Mouth Beach on 13 December. They were brought to Sri Lanka on a special Australian flight.