Sri Lankan asylum seekers arrived in Australian port will be sent to Christmas Island

A group of Sri Lankan asylum seekers who arrived undetected at an Australian port yesterday will be sent to Christmas Island for processing, the Australian Minister for Brendan O'Connor said today.

Sri Lanka police arrest 45 illegal migrants heading to Australia

Sri Lanka Police Wednesday morning arrested 45 people attempting to illegally migrate to Australia.

Sri Lanka, Australia agree to expand bilateral relations, sets up Joint Working Group

Sri Lanka and Australia today held discussions on a range of issues and agreed to enhance bilateral relations between the two countries in a number of sectors including defense, trade, investments, and tourism.

Australia sends another 50 Sri Lankan boat people home

Australia Tuesday deported another 50 Sri Lankan asylum seekers to Colombo bringing the total returned involuntarily to 543 since August 13.

Australia returns over 400 asylum seekers to Sri Lanka since August

Since the new immigration law went into effect from August 13, Australia has sent 425 Sri Lankan asylum seekers - both voluntarily and involuntarily home.

Australia warns Sri Lankan asylum seekers and people smugglers

Australia today issued a stern warning to the people smugglers, especially to the Sri Lankans for selling lies to asylum seekers about visa opportunities in Australia.

Australia returns 26 Sri Lankan illegal migrants home

Australia has returned another group of Sri Lankan nationals home on a charter flight that left from Christmas Island late Thursday.

Australia sends back the 14 Sri Lankan pirate asylum seekers

Australian authorities have sent back the 14 Sri Lankan asylum seekers who pirated a fishing boat after assaulting the fishermen onboard and set sail to that country. A statement from the office of the Australian Minister of Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen said

Australia rejects Sri Lankan newspaper editor's asylum request

Australia has rejected the asylum request by the editor of a Sri Lankan newspaper who had claimed that her life is in danger due to her writings critical of the government. Australian immigration officials have ruled that the editor-in-chief of Sunday Leader Frederica Jansz does not face persecution by the Sri Lankan government as she claimed. Ms. Jansz, who was sacked as the editor last month after the new owner took over the English weekly, has requested asylum in Australia through the Australian High Commission in Colombo. In July, Ms. Jansz in Sunday Leader published a transcript of a phone conversation she had with the country's defense secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa where he had indicated that she might be harmed for her criticism against the government. Ms. Jansz has said that she has received several written death threats and earlier this year she complained to the police that she was being followed by a man on a motorcycle.

Australian court deals blow to global tobacco giants

Australia called on the world to match its tough new anti-tobacco marketing laws after its highest court on Wednesday dismissed a challenge from global cigarette companies, although few of Asia's emerging economies appeared likely to follow suit.

Sri Lanka Navy arrests 43 illegal migrants bound for Australia

Sri Lanka Navy today arrested another 43 illegal migrants bound for Australia and handed them over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for further investigations. A fast Naval Patrol Craft attached to the Western Naval Command has intercepted the multi-day fishing trawler with the 43 people onboard in the sea about 20 nautical miles west of Negombo.

4 dead, 130 rescued from capsized boat off Australian island

Four people are believed to have died and 130 others were rescued after a crowded boat carrying asylum seekers to Australia capsized and sank Wednesday, less than a week after more than 90 people drowned on a similar journey.

Sri Lanka arrests 53 illegal migrants heading to Australia

Sri Lanka Navy has intercepted a fishing trawler carrying illegal migrants heading to Australia in the seas off Arugambay in the Eastern coast on Tuesday.

Australia provides over $2.7 million for five projects to assist Sri Lanka's displaced people

Australia has allocated over $2.7 million this financial year to fund five projects in Sri Lanka supporting displaced people through improved health services and provision of shelter and protection, the Australian Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen has disclosed. Bowen, who concluded a three-day visit to Sri Lanka Friday, has said that

Sri Lanka rejects accusations of kidnapping Australian dissident activist

The Sri Lankan government today rejected the accusation that a government hand was involved in the alleged kidnapping of an Australian citizen and a dissident member of Sri Lanka Marxist party and a female dissident activist. In a statement Sri Lanka's External Affairs Ministry today (10) questioned the credibility of the claims made by the proclaimed leader of the breakaway Marxist party Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) Premakumar Gunaratnam alias Noel Mudalige and women's leader of FSP Dimuthu Attygalle that they have been kidnapped by the government security forces or groups working with the government, especially the Defense Secretary.

Aussies win third final to take CB series

Australia win the Commonwealth Bank series after beating Sri Lanka by 17 runs following a tense final at Adelaide. Clint McKay took five wickets for 28 runs while Upul Tharanga scored 71 off 122 balls for the Lankans.

India rejects trilateral security pact with Australia, US

India on Thursday voiced surprise at Australian foreign minister Kevin Rudd's remarks suggesting trilateral security agreement between US, India and Australia, and made it clear it was not keen on it.

Sri Lanka's First Lady at CHOGM

First Ladies of Heads of Government, who participated in the 22nd Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting inaugurated today (28) at the Conference and Exhibition Complex Centre in Perth, Australia posed for a group photograph.

Australia to boost diplomatic presence in China

Australia will boost its diplomatic presence in China, a senior official said Thursday.

Australia restricts Sri Lanka to 191 in first ODI

Australia's Mitchell Johnson took six wickets to restrict Sri Lanka to 191 in the first One Day International match at the Pallekele International Stadium today. Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan won the toss and decided to bat with Upul Tharanga who returned to the host side after a three-match ban.