Australia has transferred the group of 157 Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers to Nauru after they refused to consider returning to India.

Australia's Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has told the Australian media that the group of 157 asylum seekers including about 50 children has been flown to the offshore processing center in Nauru Saturday since none would agree to meet with Indian consular officials, Colombo Page reported.

The asylum seekers left Pondicherry, India early in June sailing to Australia when they were intercepted by the Australian authorities and held aboard the Customs vessel Ocean Protector at an unknown location.

They were transferred to the Curtin Detention Center in Western Australia on July 27 when a court prevented the Australian government from returning them to Sri Lanka.

The Australian Minister told media that the asylum seekers were flown over Friday night to Nauru where genuine refugees will be resettled.

SS