Nov. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Indonesia’s government will decide today whether to grant Australia more time to persuade 78 Sri Lankan asylum seekers to leave a customs vessel moored in Indonesian waters, Sky News reported.

Australian officials have tried for almost two weeks to convince the ethnic Tamil refugees to voluntarily leave the Oceanic Viking ship and enter the Tanjung Pinang detention center on the island of Bintan, northwest of Jakarta.

The Tamils, who were picked up from their damaged boat by the Oceanic Viking in Indonesia’s search and rescue zone last month, are refusing to leave and say they want to be taken to Australia, Sky said. Security clearance for the customs vessel to remain in Indonesian waters expires late today.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s government is under pressure from opposition lawmakers to cut the number of asylum seekers arriving in Australian waters. Australia and Indonesia plan to draft an agreement to tackle people smuggling before Rudd and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono meet in Singapore next week at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ed Johnson in Sydney at ejohnson28@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: November 5, 2009 19:36 EST