6 asylum seekers ask to leave Australia

13 December 2012 02:05 am

More Sri Lankan asylum seekers have asked Australia to send them back to Colombo.

Five of the men were being held at the offshore processing centre on Nauru, and have decided to abandon their refugee claims.

The other man has been detained in Western Australia.

Government plan

Meanwhile, Australia's Foreign Minister, Bob Carr, says the practise of sending Sri Lankan asylum seekers back home is discouraging people smugglers.

More than 750 Sri Lankans have either asked to return home, or been forced back, since the Government resumed offshore processing in August.

"We are very, very happy with the relationship we've got with the government in Sri Lanka," Senator Carr said.

"And very, very happy that they are cooperating with us in facilitating the return of people who are not asylum seekers, who are economic refugees and have no claim to jump the queue."

Senator Carr will travel to Colombo tomorrow to discuss efforts to disrupt people smuggling, as well as trade ties and tourism.