Australia returns 41 asylum seekers to Sri Lanka

The Australian and Sri Lankan governments have moved swiftly to return a group of 41 Sri Lankan nationals who attempted to arrive illegally in Australia by boat, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison announced on Monday.

Morrison said in a statement that the asylum seekers were scanned by teleconference at sea before being transferred to the Sri Lankan navy near Sri Lanka on Sunday.

All of the people on board were "safe and accounted for" and the boat was not in distress.

The suspected illegal entry vessel was intercepted by an Australian border protection patrol west of Cocos (Keeling) Islands in late June, the statement said.

Morrison said the transfer follows previous returns to Sri Lanka including 79 illegal maritime arrivals last year.

The Immigration Minister said Monday marked the 200th day since the last people smuggling venture successfully arrived.

"In that time no one has drowned at sea and this is an outcome the Government welcomes," he said.

Morrison remained firm on the government's policy towards asylum seekers.

"The Government will continue to reject the public and political advocacy of those who have sought to pressure the government into a change of policy.

"Their advocacy, though well intentioned, is naively doing the bidding of people smugglers who have been responsible for almost 1, 200 deaths at sea.

"People should not trust the lies of people smugglers and seek to come to Australia illegally by boat. It is dangerous and the Australian Government's strong border protection policies under Operation Sovereign Borders mean they will not succeed."