TWO TEENAGERS ARE AMONG FEARED DEAD SRI LANKAN ASYLUM-SEEKERS

Two teenage boys aged 13 and 14 are among the Sri Lankans missing feared dead after a boat carrying suspected asylum-seekers capsized.

Home Affairs Minister Brendan Nelson confirmed tonight that “Initial indications are that 39 males were believed to have been onboard, including two youths aged 13 and 14 who remain missing” after the boat sunk on Sunday night.

One body has been recovered and a further two have been sighted in the water. There are 11 people still missing.

“There are grave concerns for those persons still unaccounted for,” Mr O’Connor said.

“The 27 survivors will be taken to Christmas Island, where appropriate medical treatment and mental health support, including grief counselling, will be available. Their health and wellbeing is our first priority. Other checks, including identity and reasons for travel, will commence in due course.”

Two Royal Australian Air Force AP3 Orions, a Customs and Border Protection Dash 8 aircraft and an AMSA Dornier are participating in the search for survivors.

The Australian

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STUDENTS SURROUND ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING AT J’PURA

A tense situation has broken out at the Jayawardenapura University after a group of students surrounded an administrative building. The students have reportedly surrounded Vice Chancellor N.L.A. Karunaratna ’ s office building following an announcement that he will not be issuing Mahapola scholarships.

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VIDEO: FONSEKA FOUND GUILTY; SENTENCED TO 3 YEARS

Sarath Fonseka was found guilty by a divided decision in the case regarding the ‘White Flag’ statement and sentenced to 3 years in prison by the Colombo High Court today (November 18). The verdict divided 2:1 was given by the High Court bench, headed by Judge Deepali Wijesundara and comprising Judges DMPD Waraweva and Zulfiqar Razin. Justice Waraweva giving his judgment deliberated that Fonseka was not guilty on all three charges while Justice Wijesundara and Rashim found Fonseka guilty of the first charge, of inciting violence through his statement, and found him not guilty on the second and third charges. Sarath Fonseka, who is currently serving a 30-month jail term imposed by a court martial, was sentenced to three years in prison and fined Rs.5,000. The former Army Commander was accused of inciting violence by, in an interview given to the Sunday Leader, alleging that Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa gave an illegal order not to accommodate any LTTE cadres attempting to...

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