No flood of boats, says Sri Lanka

11 April 2013 12:40 pm - 5 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lanka's high commissioner to Australia says he doesn't expect a flood of asylum seekers will follow the 66 potential refugees who gobsmacked onlookers with their arrival in Geraldton.

Passengers of the rickety boat that pulled into the busy port on Tuesday remain in the country but will be flown to Christmas Island for processing as soon as possible, an Immigration Department spokeswoman said.

The women and children remain at various undisclosed locations, understood to be in Perth.

The single men are at Yongah Hill Detention Centre in Northam, where the facility is substantially under its 600-person capacity, Shire President Steve Pollard said.

The high commissioner, Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe, told Fairfax radio that he expected the asylum seekers would not be found to be refugees and would be sent back to Sri Lanka as soon as possible.

Saying it had been four years since the country's 30-year civil war ended and denying accusations of ongoing human rights violations against Tamils, he said he believed the Geraldton arrivals wanted to live in Australia “purely for economic reasons”.

A single boat slipping through maritime surveillance after no intelligence tip-offs was not serious, Admiral Samarasinghe said.

Any boats attempting a similar journey were likely to be intercepted by the Sri Lankan Navy's cordon and if not, there were no guarantees there would be fair weather all the way to the Australian mainland, he said.

“The success (of the boat that arrived in Geraldton) was due to certain circumstances but it will not give a green light to people to think of taking this road.”

He said the Sri Lankan government was spending substantial amounts trying to stop asylum seeker boats leaving and co-operation with Australian authorities was good.

“If the two countries agree, they can do wonders,” he said.

Admiral Samarasinghe is all for the Opposition's plan to reinstate the Howard-era policy of towing back asylum seeker vessels.

But former defence force chief Chris Barrie says it could amount to piracy.

The coalition says customs could contact boats in international waters to establish whether to turn them around, but Admiral Barrie warns that could violate international law.

“If the boat itself is well found and it appears to be exercising freedom of the high seas, a right to board is very much constrained under international law,” he told ABC radio.
“There would be some circumstances, I guess, where it might become an act of piracy.”Dr. De Silva also released documents pertaining to these developments to the media.
Thompson Group has also agreed to organize one to one meetings with the Sri Lankan Embassy officers and the US Congressmen as well.

He said a sum of US 800,000 (Rs. 100 million) is to be paid to the Thomson Advisories LTD by the Sri Lankan government for these services.

According to the documents which were released by the UNP MP, the Central Bank had signed the agreement with the Thomson Advisory Group.

He charged that the Central Bank has been named a non-movement entity as per the information given in the documents pertaining to the agreement.

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Comments - 5

Jagath Leanage Thursday, 11 April 2013 02:27 PM

What we cant understand is, why people leave wonder of asia.

Lionajith Thursday, 11 April 2013 05:00 PM

It's (wonder of Asia) meant only for the thugs in the SL parliament. Thus, they get all the comfort, perks, benefits, money etc. etc. These things are not meant for the ordinary folk in the country. Hence, these ordinary folks have to look for alternative options to make a few dollars (if that's possible) overseas. Economics made easy! If for example, There is a bag full of money lets say, $20m in the treasury to be spent for the well being of the ordinary peasant in the country. What do you think will happen to the $20m? Guess?For argument sake, in the history of SL politics, could you name a Politian who has brought money from their banks to spend for the ordinary folks well being in the country?

Chandana Wijeyathila Friday, 12 April 2013 01:40 AM

When the GOSL stops paying people and boat owners, the boats will stop. Chandana

clueless Friday, 12 April 2013 06:39 AM

Aus also need to be more genuine in the relati. onship with SL

Grace Friday, 12 April 2013 08:13 AM

People are leaving this country not only for economic reasons. The countries law and order situation makes them to find a safe place for their future generations.

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No flood of boats, says Sri Lanka

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