Asylum seekers not Lankan

15 December 2010 10:37 am

Initial inquiries by the Sri Lankan High Commission in Australia have revealed that there were no Sri Lankans among the 50 asylum seekers believed to have drowned yesterday after their boat ran onto rocks on reaching Christmas Island, Australia.

External Affairs Ministry sources said that the asylum seekers were said to be of Middle Eastern origin but the Lankan High Commission would continue inquiries into the matter.

The wooden fishing vessel, carrying the victims, appeared to have lost power and drifted for 45 minutes before smashing against cliffs in the three-metre swell.

More than 2,000 asylum seekers are in the Christmas Island immigration detention centre and 3,000 more are held on the Australian mainland. (Dianne Silva)