Tamil Asylum Seekers Expected On Sri Lankan Shores Today

A group representing mainly Sri Lankan Tamils in Australia has expressed their outrage over reports Australia may have returned a boat of asylum seekers to Sri Lanka in the past few days. Recent reports by ABC says that the two boats carrying the refugees will arrive to Sri Lankan shores within the latter parts of the day, but the sources have yet failed to determine to which port the boats will be arriving.

According to media reports the two boats, one of which was said to be carrying 150 people including Tamils were apprehended by Australian authorities off Christmas Island.

The Sri Lankan military says it's unaware of any arrangements with Australian government to return asylum seekers.

"We are not aware of any arrangements of the Australian Navy handing over refugees, to Sri Lankan Navy," a spokesman for the Sri Lankan military told ABC Radio Tuesday.

Refugee advocates say they haven't heard from the asylum seekers since Saturday and they believe Australia's coordinating with the Sri Lankan navy to tow them back.

The Australian Tamil Congress says one of its members was in contact with the passengers until late last week, when communication went silent.

The Australian government had declined all confirmations regarding the matter.