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Tougher laws to fight human smuggling - Minister Amaratunga

by Asanga Warnakulasuriya

"Interior Minister John Amaratunga yesterday pledged to add more teeth to the existing laws dealing with human smuggling to net in the culprits who make use of the current loopholes in the law to avoid prosecution".

"Sri Lanka, with the co-operation of other states has already taken the initiative in giving top priority to tackle this problem since the traffickers, form part of the worldwide criminal network which is involved in arms smuggling and terrorism".

Speaking at the" Bali Ad Hoc Experts' Working Group 1 Conference on People Smuggling and Trafficking" held at the Jaic Hilton, the Minister said, "We have been able to make a significant breakthrough in this regard with 52 facilitators during the last year alone serving jail terms without bail.

"Although there was one tragic instance in late 2001 where 400 people in a vessel were drowned, the smugglers do not seem to be giving up and are continuing to lure innocent victims, proclaiming greener pastures enjoyed by those who have managed to get across and settle down", the Minister added. The Minister also said that the fight against traffickers will only succeed if agencies of all nations within and between governments collectively make an effort to breakdown the glass walls that hinder the sound co-ordination.

The Ministers from 38 countries yesterday discussed and reviewed the progress made so far and came up with seven strategies to strengthen regional and international efforts to combat the global human smuggling and trafficking. Among the strategies suggested by the working group are to facilitate the return of persons who have no legal authority to remain, in accordance to the national laws and to improve international co-operation by establishing effective domestic co-ordination. The working group will meet again in Bali on April 29.

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