Australian sea patrol helps save 41
An Australian aerial patrol helped save dozens of asylum seekers when their vessel began sinking.
An Australian aerial patrol helped save 41 asylum-seekers from drowning when their vessel began sinking in the middle of the Indian Ocean 10 days ago as they tried to sail to Australia.
The Australian understands the boat broke down between Sri Lanka and Australia and began to take on water before the passengers were rescued by the Sri Lankan Navy with the assistance of an Australian surveillance aircraft attached to Operation Sovereign Borders.
It was the second boatload to have tried to get to Australia in the past month, having left port during the federal election campaign, and the third since March.
It is believed several other boatloads of asylum-seekers have been detected in recent weeks. Operation Sovereign Borders chief Major General Craig Furini confirmed the rescue of the asylum-seekers on the vessel on May 23, which was sinking when the Sri Lankan Navy found it.
The rescue follows the interception last week of another boat in northern Australian waters with 20 Sri Lankan asylum-seekers aboard. They had left Sri Lanka midway through the Australian federal election, with people-smugglers telling potential clients that a change of government to Labor would be favourable to their asylum hopes.
All were processed at Christmas Island and returned by Australian aircraft to Sri Lanka.
The Australian can also confirm another boat was intercepted on March 7 by the Sri Lankan Navy 80 nautical miles from Galle, with the 30 occupants believed to be intending to travel to Australia. Prior to that, a boatload had attempted the journey in February with the asylum-seekers telling officials that they had also been told a change of government was likely in Australia which would be more sympathetic to their claims.
Major General Furini, who is in Sri Lanka with Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, confirmed the rescue.
“Fortunately, the Sri Lankan Navy was able to rescue 41 Sri Lankan nationals on board,” Major General Furini said.
“This highlights the very real danger of attempting these journeys. Before (Operation Sovereign Borders) started in 2013, more than 1200 drowned at sea attempting such journeys at sea. Since Operation Sovereign Borders began there has been none.
“I thank the Sri Lankan Navy for rescuing this latest vessel.”
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