Illegal migration issue:

Defence Secretary to meet EAM officials

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa will meet External Affairs Ministry officials shortly to discuss how Sri Lanka could coordinate efforts with the Australian government to address the illegal immigration problem also involving Sri Lankans.

Defence Ministry sources yesterday said, the External Affairs Ministry has requested a meeting in this regard with Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. External Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunathilaka Amunugama said, they made the request consequent to a proposal by the Australian government to set up a committee comprising officials from the Sri Lankan and Australian governments to look into the illegal immigration issue.

Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration(IOM) Chief of Mission for Sri Lanka Richard Danziger said in an an interview with the Daily News over the phone, that IOM is concerned about the rapid increase in the number of illegal migrants from Sri Lanka. According to Danziger these are clear cases of human smuggling .They have been lured into their business by promising better lives in Western countries. “They take between Rs. 500,000 and Rs two million from each victim only to put their lives at risk in the high seas, “he said.

He said, each case must be prosecuted without leaving gaps between the arrest process and the legal process.

Asked if he knew any particular reason for the rapid increase in number of illegal migrants, he said, “we do not know any particular reason for this. However, it is our understanding that human smugglers have become active in the Indian Ocean, Danziger said . According to External Affairs Ministry sources, during the period between first January to October 15 this year (2012), some hundred boats with illegal migrants have arrived within Australian jurisdiction.

“This is a serious problem for them. That is why they have proposed setting up of a committee to solve the matter, sources said.

“From the Sri Lankan point of view, we are concerned about the safety of the migrants. We expect the Australian authorities to send them back to the country on flights,” sources explained. Navy spokesman Commander Kosala Warnakulasuriya said, they have arrested 2588 persons, including women and children from Trincomalee and Chilaw along with 49 fishing vessels which were trying to leave for Australia this year.

“These were fishing boats constructed to carry five to eight people. The smugglers usually carry more than 20 people in a boat with scarce food for their sustenance for a long journey putting their lives at extreme danger,” he said.