4 Jul 2007

Sri Lankan asylum seekers on Nauru are being interviewd by Australian officials

7:02 am on 4 July 2007

Twenty seven of the 82 Sri Lankan asylum seekers held on Nauru are currently being interviewed by Australian immigration officials.

The asylum seekers were intercepted by the Australian navy in international waters in February and were sent to Nauru for processing.

David Manne from the refugee and immigration legal centre says fifty five Sri Lankans have already been interviewed, while the remaining men are currently being questioned.

"Two lawyers from our organisation are currently in Nauru providing legal representation to the 27 Sri Lankan clients who are currently being interviewed in relation to their claims for refugee or humanitarian protection. That process will be finalised by the end of this week."

David Manne says they will await the decision of their cases once this process has been finalised.