The Home Affairs Minister admits there could be more illegal boats en route to Australia after a vessel was intercepted last week.

20 Sri Lankan asylum seekers have been returned to their country after trying to reach Australia by boat.

The Australian revealed the group set sail during the federal election campaign, not long after the Easter bombing attacks in Sri Lanka.

Their boat was intercepted last week and they were taken to Christmas Island before being flown to Colombo in a government charter jet on Wednesday.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton tells Ray Hadley the government is concerned there could be more boats heading for Australia.

“It’s a very disturbing development and, without going into all of the details, it’s not the only vessel that we’re worried about.

“Obviously people thought there was going to be a change of government… people smugglers have been marketing this.

“But we want to send a very clear message to people here who might try and organise ventures for people offshore.

“The Prime Minister and I are absolutely resolute in making sure that we can never allow people to come here by boat.”

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