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