Refugee boat sinks near Australia; many Lankans feared dead

Colombo, July 24: Over 60 Sri Lankan and Iranian nationals were feared dead after a refugee boat on way to Australia sank south of Indonesia on Tuesday.

According to agency reports, the boat was carryig 170 illegal immigrants and about 100 people were rescued overnight.

The latest mishap comes a week after Australia changed its laws for asylum seekers, banning all illegal immigrants.

Australia siged a deal with Papua New Guinea for transferring all such boat people to that country for re-settlement in their home countries.