Sri Lanka tells world:
‘Deport all illegal migrants’
Chamikara WEERASINGHE
In the wake of rising numbers of illegal migrants who try to enter
foreign countries as asylum seekers from Sri Lanka, the External Affairs
Ministry called on foreign governments to “deport” illegal Sri Lankan
asylum seekers.
Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella on Thursday
said they have asked governments faced with the challenge of an inflow
of illegal migrants from Sri Lanka who try to settle in their countries
as asylum seekers, to effect ‘deportation” as a solution to their
problem.
Rambukwella said the number of Sri Lankan Tamils trying to migrate to
Australia as asylum seekers increased drastically this year.
The government understands that these human smuggling activities are
being carried out with the support of some political elements.
These elements belong to pro - LTTE diaspora that have close
political connections with some political groups based in Sri Lanka.
“There are two such persons already in the custody of the police.
They were arrested while trying smuggle hundreds of Tamil people to
Australia via sea,” he said. “They are doing this with the financial
support of the well placed pro LTTE elements in other countries,to paint
a picture to say that the country is not safe for Tamil people,” he
explained.
“They have increased the number of Tamils being taken by them to
Australia illegally as part of their human smuggling campaign to
discredit the government in the background of the United Nations Human
Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review sessions, which the
government will participate in November,” he explained. Key
organizations of diaspora have come up to defend those involved in these
illegal activities, to pressurize the foreign government’s over not
retaining those who come to their countries as asylum seekers from Sri
Lanka.
He further stated, “the continuous outflow of boats carrying Sri
Lankans as asylum seekers is no longer to be considered as an activity
that has been carried out by human smugglers as a lucrative trade for
mere financial gains by smugglers.” “Its perpetrators have a sinister
political agenda, which is unfolding as with the recent arrests made by
Sri Lanka Navy with steps being taken by the government to intensify
border security of the sea,” he added. |