Australian warship intercepts boatload of Sri Lankans

AUSTRALIA: An Australian warship has intercepted a boat carrying 85 Sri Lankans towards a Canberra-controlled island in the Indian Ocean, Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews said yesterday.

Andrews said the unseaworthy vessel was intercepted about 50 nautical miles off Christmas Island on Tuesday, after being spotted a day earlier.

He said the passengers, all men, were transferred to the warship HMAS Success on Wednesday night because of concerns about the state of their boat. Andrews did not say whether the men, described as "potential unauthorised arrivals", were seeking asylum in Australia.

"The vessel was not engaged in any legitimate commercial activity," he said in a statement.

Sydney, Thursday, AFP