Sri Lankan refugee poisons himself in Australia

A Sri Lankan man died in Australian immigration detention, officials said on Tuesday, with refugee advocates claiming he killed himself with poison after being refused permission to attend a Hindu festival.

An immigration spokesman said the man died shortly after midnight at Sydney Immigration Residential Housing - a family compound adjacent to the Villawood detention centre in western Sydney.

‘The detention services provider called an ambulance late last night,’ the spokesman told AFP.

‘The circumstances of the client’s death are under investigation and the department will cooperate fully.’ The death comes as leaders from 54 Commonwealth countries, including Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, arrive in Australia for a summit set to discuss the plight of asylum-seekers and other human rights issues. (AFP)