- From: AAP
- December 17, 2012 | The Australian
Australia plans to
provide a boost for Sri Lanka's spy network to help combat people smuggling. Source: AAP
BEEFED up spy operations in Sri Lanka and closer maritime
ties will help target people smuggling rackets, Foreign Minister Bob Car says.
Senator
Carr is in Colombo for high level talks and has unveiled a four-point plan.
Under
the plan Australia will give Sri Lanka extra surveillance and search and rescue
equipment.
Australia
will also host a joint training program on maritime surveillance for Sri Lankan
naval officers.
"There
is a message from these talks to people in Sri Lanka - by getting on that boat
you risk your life, you'll lose your money and you will be sent back
home," Senator Carr said on Monday.
There
has been a surge in numbers of Sri Lankan economic migrants undertaking asylum
seeker boat journeys to Australia in recent years.
There
will also be a $700,000 advertising campaign targeting Sri Lankan towns and
villages identified as people smuggling hot spots.
"We're
setting a clear agenda for intelligence sharing, naval co-operation and helping
rebuild Sri Lanka - all designed to reduce people smuggling," he said.
Australia
hopes to cut demand for economic migration with a $45 million AusAid program,
over five years, to help rebuild houses and schools in poor rural communities,
Senator Carr said.
Since
August, 700 Sri Lankans have had their applications for asylum rejected and
have been involuntary returned.
