A further 22 Sri Lankan irregular maritime arrivals have been returned to Colombo after failing to meet Australia’s international obligations, the Australian Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Brendan O’Connor, said today.
The group departed Christmas Island on Thursday.
Their return takes the number of Sri Lankans sent home to 1270 – 1057 of them involuntarily since August last year.
O’Connor said returning the group to Sri Lankans sends a powerful message.
He says the Australian government is making it crystal clear that those who pay smugglers are throwing their money away and risking their lives in the process.
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