Forty-one Sri Lankan asylum seekers, who were handed over to the Sri Lankan Navy after a failed attempt to reach Australia by boat, were produced before the Galle Magistrate’s Court today (8).
Five of the suspects were remanded until July 14 while 27 of them were each released on cash bail of Rs 5,000 and personal bail of Rs 100,000.
Nine children (below the age of 16) who were among the group of failed asylum seekers were aquitted by the Galle Magistrate, U.S. Kalansooriya.
The suspects, speaking to reporters outside the court, claimed that they received no facilities in Australia and that even the children were ignored.
One of them alleged that they were given a bottle of sea water when they asked for drinking water while another claimed that only a puppy taken on the journey by them were taken care of by Australian officials.
The puppy was also produced at the court today.
