Sri Lanka, Feb. 19 -- Australia has barred a citizen linked to the Islamic State (IS) group from the country for up to two years.

The person is among the group of 34 Australian women and children who tried to head home after being released from a Syrian camp earlier this week, only to be turned back by Syrian authorities for "technical reasons".

The ban was issued "on advice from security agencies", Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said on Wednesday, adding that the other 33 people do not meet "required legal thresholds" to be banned.

Canberra has refused to repatriate the group, believed to be made up of the wives, widows and children of IS fighters. There are 23 children among them.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stressed that thes...