Sri Lanka, Australia discuss combating maritime crimes

Thursday, 7 May 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A diplomatic delegation led by Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton which is currently in Sri Lanka on an official visit has held discussions with Sri Lankan officials on the ways to combat crimes at sea. The Australian Minister, accompanied by the other delegates, met the Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera at the Naval Headquarters in Colombo on 5 May and held discussions on key issues related to illegal sea migration. The Commander drew attention to the excellent relationship the Sri Lankan Navy had with Australian authorities in combating crimes at sea and recalled the two fully refurbished Bay-class patrol boats gifted by the Australian Government as a capacity enhancement measure to combat human smuggling. The Navy Commander noted that the two boats had been of immense help to the Navy in combating maritime crimes. The Australian Minister expressed his appreciation of the cooperation extended by the Sri Lanka Navy for the joint efforts to prevent people smuggling. The Australian delegation also held discussions with the Sri Lankan Minister of Resettlement, Reconstruction and Hindu Religious Affairs D.M Swaminathan on Tuesday. Addressing a media briefing held in Colombo, Minister Swaminathan said that the Australian delegation was satisfied with the new situation in the country under the present administration which operated through a policy of good governance. Appraising the visiting delegation of the new Government’s efforts to solve the issues of the people in the North, Minister Swaminathan had said that the Government had handed over 1,000 acres of land in Valikamam and taken measures to hand over another 1,000 acres in Sampur for the resettlement of displaced people. The Australian minister, while commending the Sri Lankan Government’s efforts, has pledged to support the fishing community in the north. The delegation also discussed measures to halt illegal migration and human trafficking between Sri Lanka and Australia when they met with the President and the Prime Minister. Among the delegation that accompanied the Australian Minister were Senior Advisor Michael Kilham, the Commander of Operation Sovereign Borders Major General Andrew Bottrell and the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Australian Customs and Border Protection Michael Outram. They were accompanied by the High Commissioner for Australia Robyn Mudie and Defence Adviser Captain Jason Sears.