Lankan asylum seekers to be taken to Oz

The lawyers, acting for about onethird of those on board, argued that any transfer to Colombo would be illegal, with concerns about the way they were screened

A group of 157 asylumseekers in custody on the high seas for weeks will be taken to Australia and held until consular officials confirm their nationalities, ending a long stand- off, authorities said Friday.

The development follows lawyers acting for about one- third of those on board — thought to be mostly minority ethnic Tamils from Sri Lanka — taking their case to the high court.

They argued that any transfer to Colombo would be illegal, with concerns about the way they were screened.

The boat left India in June and Australia said it had been “disabled” when it was intercepted outside Canberra’s migration zone.

The asylum- seekers, including children, have since been held in limbo on board an Australian customs ship while their legal status is determined.

Immigration minister Scott Morrison said they would be taken to the mainland — the first boat people to arrive in Australia in seven months — where Indian consular officials would determine their identities.

“I have been pleased to consent to the passengers being returned to Australia for the purpose of allowing Indian officials to determine identities and arrange where possible for the return of any persons to India,” he said. “It is our intention those who can be returned should and must be returned,” he added, saying India had agreed to take back any of its citizens and would also consider taking Sri Lankan nationals who were Indian residents. He ruled out any of them being resettled in Australia. Prime Minister Tony Abbott added: “I would certainly expect a very large number of people on that boat to go back to their country of origin.”