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High-tech training centre for immigration officials

A fully equipped training centre to train local officials in high-tech methods in tackling migration related problems and illegal trafficking of persons was donated to Sri Lanka recently.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) financed the centre and was opened by the Minister of Interior and Christian Affairs John Amaratunga on Monday at the 5th Floor of Unity Plaza Building at Colombo 4.

The Centre will function under the Department of Immigration and Emigration and provide training in the most modern methods of detection of document fraud, forgeries, detection and dealing with victims of illicit trafficking of persons.

Minister Amaratunga said that the International Organisation for Migrants which works with UN agencies consists of 98 member states and 33 observer states and has assisted many countries in dealing with migration problems such as repatriation of migrants on humanitarian needs, facilitation of labour migration, assisting migrants in distress, training and capacity building of officials in dealing with migration problems.

The Minister recalled that Sri Lanka became a member of the IOM in 1990 and the IOM took the lead role in bringing back about 90,000 expatriate Sri Lankan workers in the Middle-East during the First Gulf War in 1990. It has also assisted the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment in training of trainers to train legal migrants to be better prepared on their way to employment abroad. He said that the present training centre will benefit not only officials of Immigration and Emigration Department manning exit and entry points at the Airport and the Ports but also Police, the Examiner of Questioned Documents and legal personnel handling migration related issues. He thanked the IOM, its Director-General and the local mission for the donation of the centre.

Brunson McKinley, Director-General of IOM said that he was certain that the Centre will give good results. The technological training provided at this centre will be highly advanced and help Sri Lankan officials to keep abreast with the advances made in the field internationally.

Associated at the opening were the Director General of IOM based in Geneva, Brunson McKinley, who is on a short visit to Sri Lanka, M.N. Junaid, Secretary Ministry of Interior and Christian Affairs, Mary Sheehan, Chief of Mission in Sri Lanka of the IOM, Controller of Immigration and Emigration Mervyn Wijesekera, officials of Immigration and Emigration, Police, Legal Draughtsmen's Department and members of the diplomatic corps.

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