More than 70 Sri Lankans safe

Fishing boat carrying group spotted off Christmas Island:

Brendan Nicholson

More than 70 Sri Lankan asylum seekers intercepted at the weekend, who include many women and children, have been taken to Christmas Island.

A fishing boat carrying the group was spotted on Saturday by a Customs and Border Protection aircraft about 80 nautical miles from Christmas Island. A navy patrol boat, HMAS Armidale, intercepted the boat.

The Sri Lankans were taken to Christmas Island yesterday for identity and health checks.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, said yesterday that everyone aboard another boat that sank on its way from Indonesia to Australia last week was known to be safe. Australian Federal Police officers in Jakarta had spoken to two passengers by phone and they were told the asylum seekers were safe and back in Indonesia.

The boat had been found after a text message sent by one of the passengers to Pakistan was redirected to Australian refugee advocates. (Sydney Morning Herald)