A group of 33 asylum seekers who were deported from Christmas Island, Australia arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake today in a special flight under heavy security.

The group consisted of eight women, twenty-five men and eight children who were mostly Tamils from Jaffna.

These deportees are reported to have left from Trincomalee in a fishing boat to enter Australia illegally. They have been deported after their appeal for political asylum was rejected.

A group of 40 illegal migrants arrived yesterday as well.(Text & pix by Nirmala Ferdinandus)