Lankan asylum seekers forcibly deported on specially chartered jet from Perth

A specially chartered jet carrying at least a dozen Sri Lankan asylum seekers, who were forcibly deported back to Sri Lanka (SL), left Perth at 2am on Tuesday, the Guardian reported.

Amongst the members on board were men who had been detained for more than six years in Australia (AUS) while others had ongoing court proceedings, the report said.

The Skytraders plane used to forcibly transport asylum seekers from Perth to Sri Lanka, including some who had been held for more than six years in Australia.

The asylum seekers had reported to the Australian authorities that they had been subject to torture by the security forces in SL.

The group which landed in Colombo on Tuesday (Sept 11) were arrested by Sri Lankan police on arrival. So far, the members of the group have not made contact with their families or legal representatives, the Guardian reported.

It is reported that the Australian government has been increasingly using charter flights to deport asylum seekers.