More Lankans opt to return to SL

29 September 2012 04:49 am - 11 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Another group of Sri Lankan asylum seekers has asked to be sent home, rather than risk Australia sending them to an offshore processing facility.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen says the group consists of 28 men who arrived both before and after the new processing arrangements for Nauru and Manus Island were announced in August.

He says the men have come from detention centres on Nauru, Christmas Island, as well as mainland facilities including Villawood and Northam.

The men are on a flight to Colombo that departed Christmas Island this morning.

Earlier this month another group of Sri Lankan asylum seekers opted to head home rather than be sent to Nauru.

Meanwhile the Department of Immigration has confirmed that 52 boats and nearly 3,200 passengers have been intercepted since the new processing arrangements came into force.

It has also confirmed more than 300 asylum seekers were intercepted from three boats in Australian waters yesterday.

A total of 150 asylum seekers have now been taken to Nauru under the new policy. (ABC News)

Pix by Deepa Adikari

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 11

RAJKK Saturday, 29 September 2012 06:45 AM

oHHHH SL unable to give asylum/justice to their own brother and sister. How can they justify the course of minority community.

Ahamed Saturday, 29 September 2012 09:10 AM

Get a holiday in pacific ocean island nauru and come back home with an air ticket sponsored by Australian government..

lal Saturday, 29 September 2012 12:08 PM

Looks like it is match over for humbug refugees. Easy way to capture ex terrorists on their return.

Ganesh Saturday, 29 September 2012 01:57 PM

People don't notice that there are all three communities in the boat people. Check the names of the people who volunteered to return!

Kalu Sudda Saturday, 29 September 2012 09:21 PM

Are these tamils gone mad returning to a country that kills them.Please Australia keep them under your skirts. I Promise they will not bite you.

Political Illiterate Saturday, 29 September 2012 10:38 PM

Any way all unpatriotic people are deemed as ex terrorists. Defining moment!

Vicks Saturday, 29 September 2012 11:15 PM

In the first batch of 18 returnees, there were 14 Sinhalese, 1 Muslim and 3 Tamils. In the recent batch of 28, there were 23 Sinhalese, 1 Muslim and 3 Tamils. What does this kind of break-up imply?

Gadzooks Sunday, 30 September 2012 11:57 AM

That sort of shoots the air of the commenters' bigoted balloon, don't you think?

Gadzooks Sunday, 30 September 2012 12:10 PM

If any of them had high educational qualifications and professional skills, Australia might indeed welcome them.

Gadzooks Sunday, 30 September 2012 12:12 PM

Breakdown.... it implies people are leaving the country for reasons other than ethnic discrimination.

Abdul Sunday, 30 September 2012 01:28 PM

how come they exit from the airport with smily faces? they have violated sri lankan law by leaving the country illegally. the government is just sending them back home ?

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

More Lankans opt to return to SL

Comments - 11

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

23 year old youth ends up having his testicles removed

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

A US “Kaputa”, a Lankan “Nariya” and a Presidential “Feast”

New Visa procedure implemented

Confusion remains if April 15 is a bank holiday

MIRROR CRICKET

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win

Amir, Wasim return to Pakistan national team

TODAY'S HEADLINES

100 Police personnel trained to target criminals operating on motorbikes

Catholic Church receives full report

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali’s possession of Gota’s Range Rover

We are struggling with severe shortage of staff – Excise Chief

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Security raised for Champions League ties after threat

SLA target four events at Paris Olympic Games

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win