The Aceh provincial authorities have said that Indonesia will escort the boat carrying 44 Australia-bound Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers back to international waters after repairs on Friday.
Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Wednesday issued instructions to Aceh Governor Zaini Abdullah to temporarily host the asylum seekers for food and boat repairs.
The group of 44 Tamil refugees were stranded in Lhoknga Coast, after the engine of their Indian-flagged boat broke down and drifted to the shore on June 11, reports Colombo Page.
The group had set out from India and was travelling for 20 days.
According to reports, the group illegally migrating to Australia remained on the boat after it was left stranding for six days as the Aceh authorities did not allow them to pass by.
Meanwhile, the Aceh administration has given them seven tons of fuel to continue their trip to wherever they go next.