Australia sends more Lankans

By Sunil

29 June 2013 02:30 am - 9 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A further 22 Sri Lankan irregular maritime arrivals have been returned to Colombo after failing to meet Australia’s international obligations, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Brendan O'Connor, said.

The group departed Christmas Island on Thursday. Their return takes the number of Sri Lankans sent home to 1270 – 1057 of them involuntarily since

August last year.Mr O’Connor said returning the group to Sri Lankans sends a powerful message, a statement issued by the Australian Ministry of Immigration and Citizenship stated.

“The government is making it crystal clear that those who pay smugglers are throwing their money away and risking their lives in the process,” Mr O'Connor said.

“We are committed to breaking the evil people smuggling trade, deterring people from taking dangerous journeys by boat and saving lives at sea.

“When people arrive in Australia without authorisation, any claims they make for their reasons to travel to Australia are assessed by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

“If these claims are not covered by Australia’s international obligations, they will be returned to their homeland wherever possible.

“There is no visa on arrival, there is no speedy outcome, and there is no special treatment.

“We will continue to transfer people to Nauru and Manus Island.”

People returned involuntarily do not have access to reintegration assistance, it added.

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Comments - 9

OMG Saturday, 29 June 2013 05:12 AM

They just get into the next available boat and do it all over again.

meenavn Saturday, 29 June 2013 05:23 AM

Their arrival should not make them pan to the fire...

Gemba Saturday, 29 June 2013 06:12 AM

Good on you mate. Send them all back , they are not genuine refugees. They pay vast sums of money to smugglers to get them to Australia.

Abdul Saturday, 29 June 2013 06:40 AM

im wondering why people are so stupid to believe what human smugglers say. human smugglers promise them jobs and better life in austalia. i think we should educate our people 1st.

Abdul Saturday, 29 June 2013 06:47 AM

no they wont this time! they learned their practical lesson. i dont think they will risk their life and money anymore.

manhatton Saturday, 29 June 2013 09:30 AM

I don't know why people leave such a country like Sri Lanka. problem free, corruption free, discrimination free.in Sri Lanka where respect for law and order, individual economic growths are highly supported, kind and honest politicians.

Game Kolla Saturday, 29 June 2013 09:59 AM

Our electronic and print media carries various type of foreign employment opportunities...so people think that other side of this ocean is more lucrative.....We must make this country not Miracle of Asia... but healthy living conditions for all levels of people...

Observer Saturday, 29 June 2013 08:10 PM

Ha.........ha!!!!!!!!! Isn't that the truth! No thugs, murderers or rapists! And the traffic is a breeze in Colombo!

Gemba Saturday, 29 June 2013 09:15 PM

The grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence. Most of these asylum seekers, if admitted, take on the most menial jobs available as bus boys, cleaners etc. Its like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. I have seen all over the world Sri Lankan's doing jobs that they despise in Sri Lanka. At the Dubai International airport once I spoke to two young men cleaning the toilets, but I doubt very much that they would clean toilets in their home country of S/L.

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Australia sends more Lankans

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