Australia to discuss ‘people smuggling’ with SL

1 May 2012 10:32 am

Australian Immigration Minister Chris Bowen is arriving tomorrow for a two-day visit to discuss the migration issues, including smuggling people from Sri Lanka to Australia, the media reports said.

Media reports quoting Bowen said “Australia will continue working closely with Sri Lanka on issues pertaining to people smuggling   preventing and disrupting people smuggling ventures by air and sea.”

Australia cooperates closely with Sri Lanka addressing people-smuggling. The Sri Lankan Department of Immigration and Emigration receives Australian aid, and Australia's last Federal Budget included almost AU$11 million to deploy Australian Federal Police officers to Sri Lanka and other countries to "combat people smuggling."