New Delhi, Sep 12 (IANS): The Australian High Commission Friday hailed the recent return to India of two 11th century idols from Tamil Nadu.

During his last week's visit in India, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott handed over the idols of Nataraja and Ardhanariswara to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"The quick return of these important cultural artefacts shows that Australia takes its obligations as a good international citizen very seriously," Australia's High Commissioner Patrick Suckling said in a statement.

He said he was happy to see the idols back in Tamil Nadu.

"Prime Minister Abbott wanted to personally hand them over to Prime Minister Modi on his first official visit to India as a gesture of goodwill," Suckling added.

In March, India requested Australia that both pieces be returned under Unesco's cultural heritage convention.

The institutions which had purchased the idols - the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the National Gallery of Australia - extended full support for their return.