Tamil Asylum seeker takes own life in Perth

A Tamil asylum seeker suffering from mental health problems and living in Perth on a bridging visa has taken his life on the third attempt.

The man died in Fremantle Hospital on Saturday after attempting suicide last Wednesday.

The Australian newspaper said the 31-year-old man, whose name has not been released, was married and was the father of a four-year-old girl.

His wife and daughter are still living in his fishing village of Udappuwa, 105km north of Colombo.

The man's wife had given permission to members of the Tamil community in Perth to make arrangements to cremate his body there.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship confirmed a man "who was lawfully in the community on a visa died in hospital on Saturday.

He was admitted following an act of self harm."

The department extended its sympathy to the man's family and friends.

Rama Somasunderam, a volunteer social worker with the Sri Lankan Tamil Association, claimed the man had been tortured by the Sri Lankan military before fleeing for Australia.

He said the man had been detained first on Christmas Island, where his mental condition deteriorated, and then in Brisbane, where he first attempted suicide.

The man was released into the community in Perth a month ago and had been living in the southern suburb of Hamilton Hill.

"They thought if he was released into the community he would fare better because he had a brother here," Somasunderam said.

Raj Rajeswaran, from the Australian Tamil Congress, said the man's body was due to be released on Tuesday.