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Seventy-two Sri Lankans who were among 83 asylum seekers intercepted en route to Australia in February have been accepted as refugees, Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews says. Only one had been refused refugee status, Mr Andrews said.
Assessments for seven had not yet been finalised, while one man, whose status was yet to be determined, was receiving medical treatment in Perth.
A further two had already been classed as refugees in Indonesia before setting off for Australia.
"Today my department has advised 72 Sri Lankan asylum seekers that they have been assessed as being refugees," Mr Andrews said in a statement.
"A further two Sri Lankans were found to be refugees by the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) in Indonesia before they travelled to Australia.
"Assessments for seven other Sri Lankans in Nauru are still under consideration. These cases will be finalised when outstanding issues have been resolved."
The man whose asylum claim had been refused was able to seek a review of the decision, Mr Andrews said.
The Sri Lankans have been held on Nauru for several months since their vessel was intercepted by HMAS Success near Christmas Island on February 20.
The Sri Lankan government had branded the group "economic refugees" and demanded Australia return them to their war-torn homeland.
Those Sri Lankans assessed as being refugees would be resettled - but not in Australia, Mr Andrews said.
"Australia is now exploring resettlement options in other countries for the Sri Lankans that have been assessed as being refugees," he said.
"They will remain in Nauru while arrangements are made to resettle them elsewhere."
In April, Canberra and Washington announced a deal allowing the two countries to effectively exchange refugees, with those held at Nauru able to be resettled in America and US-bound refugees detained in Guantanamo Bay sent to Australia.
The federal government had initially considered sending the Sri Lankans back to Indonesia - their departure point before setting sail for Australia.
But this plan collapsed amid criticism they would be placed in danger after Indonesia indicated it would simply send the refugees back to Sri Lanka rather than allow the UNHCR to process them in Jakarta.
Blayney News, Australia
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