4 Oct 2017

Family of deceased detainee wants to repatriate his remains

From , 4:02 pm on 4 October 2017

The family of the refugee who died this week on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island has been asked by the Australian government for $US6000 to return his body to Sri Lanka.

Rajeev Rajendran had been detained by Australia since 2013, when he fled his country after being threatened by the Sri Lankan military.

The Tamil Refugee Council of Australia says Mr Rajendran appears to have taken his own life after struggling to cope with four years of detention, the constant fear of deportation and news that his father is suffering from cancer.

A council spokesperson Aran Mylavaganam told Ben Robinson Drawbridge it's the Australian government which should pay to repatriate Mr Rajendran's remains.

Rajeev Rajendran

Rajeev Rajendran Photo: Facebook