Monday, November 26, 2012

Australian delegation in Sri Lanka to address asylum issue




English.news.cn   2012-11-23 13:24:43
           

COLOMBO, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- A high level Australian delegation is in Sri Lanka to look at ways to curb illegal asylum seekers reaching Australia by boat, officials said on Friday.
The delegation had talks with the Sri Lankan navy and officials from the Ministry of Defence and were also to visit the locations in Sri Lanka from where most people embark on the boat journey.
Peter Vardos, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, said that Australia is working with Sri Lanka at various levels on the human smuggling issue.
He said that both countries have also achieved progress on a " returns agreement" which looks at deporting illegal asylum seekers who reach Australia.
Vardos also said that both Sri Lanka and Australia hope to put together a working group to deal with the issue and in the meantime Australia will continue with its momentum in returning Sri Lankans who reach Australia illegally.
"We want these people to know that when they reach Australia illegally they will not have rights to work permits when their asylum claim is being processed," he said.
A number of Sri Lankans have reached Australia by boat illegally since the end of a 30 year war between the Sri Lankan military and Tamil Tiger rebels in May 2009 and over 300 have been sent back this year both voluntarily and involuntarily.
Asked if he saw a shortcoming on the part of the Sri Lankan navy in patrolling the sea border which results in more and more Sri Lankans managing to reach Australia by boat, Commander of the Australian Border Protection Command Rear Admiral David Johnston said that he was happy with the efforts of the Sri Lankan navy.
He noted that the Sri Lankan navy has already managed to prevent around 3,000 boat people from reaching Australia.
Editor: znz