Tuesday 24 May 2022 11:40 PM Sri Lankan asylum seekers: Greens SLAM Labor as 'shameful' for turning back boat trends now Greens SLAM Labor as 'shameful' for turning back an asylum seeker boat and returning the passengers to Sri Lanka - so will Anthony Albanese give in and open the floodgates? The boat, from Sri Lanka, was intercepted on Saturday, election day Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles was 'committed' to our border policy The asylum seekers were all 'safely returned to Sri Lanka' Greens have blasted the move as 'unnecessary, ineffective and inhumane' By Kevin Airs For Daily Mail Australia Published: 23:30 BST, 24 May 2022 | Updated: 23:34 BST, 24 May 2022 Viewcomments The Greens have blasted Labor's decision to turn back an asylum seekers boat as 'unnecessary, ineffective, inhumane and contrary to international law'. In the first test of Labor's immigration policies, the boat intercepted on election day has now been turned back and its passengers returned to Sri Lanka. Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles said: 'This government remains committed to Operation Sovereign Borders, and to the protection of lives at sea.' But Green immigration spokesman Nick McKim hit back: 'Australians voted for change and deserve so much better than a shameful continuation of Scott Morrison's brutal policy.' Richard Marles (right) is acting prime minister until Anthony Albanese is back from Japan Operation Sovereign Borders Commander, Rear Admiral Justin Jones urged asylum seekers to not 'risk your life on a dangerous journey'. 'The direction to me, by the acting prime minister was clear - this government remains committed to Operation Sovereign Borders, and to the protection of lives at sea,' he said. 'We will intercept any vessel seeking to reach Australia illegally and safely return those on board to their point of departure or country of origin, or if not safe to do so, they will be transferred to regional processing.' Each person on the boat underwent a 'thorough assessment' to check their health and if they had grounds for protection. 'My message to people smugglers attempting illegal maritime ventures to Australia is clear, don't risk your life on a dangerous journey, Australia's policies have not changed, a legal and safe pathway is the only way to life in Austalia,' Rear Admiral Jones said. The boat was stopped just off the coast of Christmas Island and a second boat was stopped in Sri Lanka with the nation's navy arresting more than 40 people for allegedly attempting to 'illegally migrate to a foreign country by sea'. Border force officers intercepted the asylum seeker boat off the coast of Australia with all people onboard sent back to Sri Lanka A second boat was stopped by the Sri Lankan Navy before it could leave The turning back of the boat comes as Anthony Albanese's government said it was launching an investigation into the timing of the asylum seekers. Thousands of voters were bombarded with a robo-text blast on Saturday as they headed to the polls. The Liberal Party seized on the fact an asylum seeker boat had been intercepted, using it to argue Labor was soft on borders. The text message blast read: 'BREAKING – Australian Border Force has intercepted an illegal boat trying to reach Australia. Keep our borders secure by voting Liberal today. https://vote.liberal.org.au.' The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Tuesday there will now be an investigation into how the boat came so close to Australia on federal election day. Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility