Galle, Sri Lanka: The 41 Sri Lankan asylum seekers transferred by Australian authorities to Sri Lanka have arrived at the Galle Magistrates Court for an appearance before a local magistrate.

The 37 Sinhalese and four Tamils, including some women and children, are expected to be bailed shortly on charges of leaving the country illegally, a breach of Sri Lanka's Immigrants and Emigrants Act.

A young asylum seeker turns up at court in Galle, Sri Lanka, after being transferred by Australia to the Sri Lankan navy. Credit:Jason Koutsoukis

"Everyone will be bailed," a Naval officer who accompanied the asylum seekers to the court house said, as their bags and belongings were unloaded from a bus.