Lankapage Logo CP 22 YEARS
Go Home Home Serving the Sri Lankan community globally since 2000
go to LankaPage.com

Leading News from Sri Lanka::

* Australian Border Force ship repatriates 46 illegal Sri Lankan migrants
Sat, Aug 6, 2022, 09:19 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Aug 06, Colombo: An Australian Border Force (ABF) vessel for the first time has brought back 46 Sri Lankans who attempted to migrate to Australia illegally, and disembarked at the Port of Colombo Friday (Aug 05).

These illegal migrants were taken into custody by the ABF while attempting to enter Australia illegally via sea by boats.

They were disembarked from the Australian ABF patrol vessel ‘Ocean Shield’ and handed over to the Sri Lankan authorities in keeping with the healthcare procedures to contain the spread of COVID 19 followed by preliminary health checkups, the Ministry of Defense said.

Recalling the long-standing close cooperation between the two countries, the ABF Regional Director for South Asia, Commander Chris Waters said they have repatriated 183 individuals from Australia following six unsuccessful illegal maritime crossings, since May this year (2022).

“No policy changes in Australian side in relation to unauthorized maritime people smuggling with the change of Government,” he also stressed.

Commander Western Naval Area of the Sri Lankan Navy (SLN), Rear Admiral Dhammika Kumara highlighting the consequences of the futile illegal migration attempts due to maritime patrols of SLN, Sri Lanka Coast Guard and ABF stressed “Not to fall prey into the hand of such illegal racketeers.”

It is the first occasion that repatriation was conducted by an Australian ABF ship. The ABF vessel ‘Ocean Shield’ is one of Australia’s offshore vessels that conduct far-reaching patrols and responds to illegal activities including people smuggling.

High Commissioner Designate of Australia to Sri Lanka, Paul Stephens, officials of the Australian High Commission, SLN and ABF were present at the occasion.

This group of illegal immigrants had made their voyage in a multiday fishing trawler from Valaichchenai, Batticaloa in early last month.

The ABF officials handed over the repatriated group of illegal immigrants to the Immigration and Emigration Department officials at Colombo Port, through the Sri Lanka Navy.

 

ColomboPage - Recent 10 Stories ::
Sri Lanka secures Rs. 20 billion from ADB for rural road renovations
Seylan Bank honored for innovative and purposeful ‘Best in Country’ and ‘Best Small Budget Campaigns’ at Dragons of Asia Awards 2023
John Keells Group’s Start-Up-Cycle concludes with Demo Day.
Sri Lanka’s Colombo-based inflation rises to 3.4 percent in November 2023
At least 30 injured in bus accident in Welikanda
Seylan Cards and Halo flights present return air tickets to the winner of September’s Swipe and Win draw
Thank You and Goodbye
COPF requests Finance Ministry to reconsider VAT exemptions for medical equipment, agricultural items, children’s foods
Sports Minister instructs to move State Ministry of Sports out of WTC saving Rs 4.2 million monthly
PM says sub-committee will be appointed to amend the local government laws to suit the current situation

Copyright © 2000, 2020 by LankaPage.com (LLC) :
The news and other contents on ColomboPage are copyrighted property of LankaPage.com, LLC. Any unauthorized use of any information on ColomboPage may constitute a violation of copyright laws. You need written permission to reproduce, republish, post, transmit, broadcast or distribute, material from this site from LankaPage.com, LLC. However, news organizations or broadcasters in Sri Lanka may republish the news items in ColomboPage with proper acknowledgment to ColomboPage.