Peter Dutton confirms boat carrying Sri Lankans intercepted

A boatload of Sri Lankans has been intercepted on approach to Australia, Peter Dutton confirms.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has confirmed a boatload of Sri Lankans has been handed back to their government after their vessel was intercepted on approach to Australia. Picture: Claudia Baxter

A boatload of Sri Lankan migrants have been handed back to their government after their vessel was intercepted on approach to Australia.

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton, in a statement released today, provided scarce details about the boat or its six passengers.

“Our Sri Lankan partners provided advice that this vessel might be targeting Australia so we were ready and waiting to locate and detain the boat,” Mr Dutton said.

“This return shows that there has not been, and will not be, any change to Australia’s robust border protection policies.”

Mr Dutton said Australia would continue to work with Sri Lanka and other regional partners to stop anyone who attempts to reach Australia illegally by boat.

“People should not believe people smugglers’ lies and risk their lives trying to get to Australia in unsafe boats; they will be turned back and will have wasted their money.”

There have been no unauthorised boat arrivals from Sri Lanka since 2013.

Human rights groups have lauded Sri Lankan’s moves away from authoritarianism after the end of its civil war, but say authorities continue to routinely torture and ill-treat prisoners to extract “confessions”, extort funds or pursue personal vendettas.

Opposition immigration spokesman Shayne Neumann said Australia’s border policies needed to be “deep in compassion”.

“People will always test Australia’s resolve, which is why it is important to have a strong position on border protection,” he said.

“We stress that you can be strong on border protection and deep in compassion.”