Sri Lanka asylum seekers 'destined for NZ'

A journalist based in Sri Lanka says the majority of the 41 asylum seekers who Australia sent back in a mid-sea transfer told him they were heading for New Zealand.

A Sri Lankan navy boat patrols the port of Galle after Sri Lanka transferred 41 would-be asylum seekers turned away by Australia.

A journalist based in Sri Lanka says the majority of the 41 asylum seekers who Australia sent back in a mid-sea transfer told him they were heading for New Zealand.

Amal Jaysinghe is a correspondent with AFP and reports on Sri Lanka for SBS Radio's Sinalese program.

He told Greg Dyett the people on the board were not fleeing persecution, but were economic migrants.