Oct 28, Colombo: Former Tamil Tiger combatants wanted for their crimes in Sri Lanka are being funded to migrate to Australia as asylum seekers by the former members of the terrorist group, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), already migrated to Australia, according to an Australian media report.

Six former combatants posed as asylum seekers were arrested leaving Sri Lanka this year, with another six people who were apprehended as alleged smugglers, the Herald Sun reported Sunday.

Sri Lankan authorities have alerted Australia of the possibility that former combatants already in Australia are funding the militants' passage.

The Australian Liberal MP for Canning Don Randall during his recent visit to Sri Lanka has been informed of Sri Lankan government's efforts to prevent the possible militants leaving the country.

Following his visit Randall has praised Sri Lanka's efforts to tackle the problem and congratulated the Sri Lankan government for setting an example of how to deal with the "evil trade in people".

The MP from Canning has urged the Australian government to throw its weight behind the Sri Lankan government to control the flow of illegal migrants.

"Australia needs to get behind GoSL with equipment, intelligence sharing and financial help in support of ongoing operations," the MP has said assuring his support for Sri Lanka's efforts to counter critics and criminal elements both at home and abroad.

Sri Lanka's High Commissioner Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe has said that the country would co-operate with Australia with information about any former combatants who had not been rehabilitated since the war ended in 2009.

"Anybody who comes here, if they have been involved in atrocities in Sri Lankan they could be wanted people. With the standing of our friendship we could share information on such people with Australia," the High Commissioner has been quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, eight more Sri Lankan asylum seekers have opted to return home from Christmas Island and they were flown back on Saturday.