The UK had previously offered some of the group a temporary move to Romania with the possibility of then coming to the UK. Others were offered financial incentives to return to Sri Lanka.
The latest development comes after the UK announced last month that it was handing sovereignty of British Indian Ocean Territory (Biot), which includes Diego Garcia, to Mauritius. The military base, however, will remain on the island.
Under a separate deal last month, future migrants arriving on Biot before the arrangement with Mauritius comes into force will be transferred to the island of St Helena – another UK territory some 5,000 miles away.
In court on Monday, lawyers said three people with criminal convictions may be sent to the island of Montserrat – a British territory in the Caribbean – to serve their sentences.
The BBC was recently granted unprecedented access to Diego Garcia to attend a court hearing, which is set to determine whether the Tamils had been unlawfully detained.
During the visit, the migrants walked the court through military tents they have been living in, pointing out damp, tears in the canvas, droppings, and a rats’ nest above one of the beds.
Over the past three years, there have been multiple hunger strikes on the island, and numerous incidents of self-harm and suicide attempts after which some people have been transferred to Rwanda for medical care.
“For three years I have been caged. Now they are releasing me but I don’t know what to do. I feel a bit blank,” one man in Rwanda said.
“I am very happy because I am coming to the UK. I thought they would send me to some other country.”
The group includes 16 children. Most are awaiting final decisions on claims for international protection – which the United Nations says is akin to refugee status – or appealing against rejections. In total, eight have been granted international protection.
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