In the wake of rising numbers of illegal migrants who try to enter foreign countries as asylum seekers from Sri Lanka, the External Affairs Ministry called on foreign governments to “deport” illegal Sri Lankan asylum seekers.

Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella on Thursday said they have asked governments faced with the challenge of an inflow of illegal migrants from Sri Lanka who try to settle in their countries as asylum seekers, to effect ‘deportation” as a solution to their problem.

Rambukwella said the number of Sri Lankan Tamils trying to migrate to Australia as asylum seekers increased drastically this year.

The government understands that these human smuggling activities are being carried out with the support of some political elements.

These elements belong to pro – LTTE diaspora that have close political connections with some political groups based in Sri Lanka.

“There are two such persons already in the custody of the police. They were arrested while trying smuggle hundreds of Tamil people to Australia via sea,” he said. “They are doing this with the financial support of the well placed pro LTTE elements in other countries,to paint a picture to say that the country is not safe for Tamil people,” he explained.

“They have increased the number of Tamils being taken by them to Australia illegally as part of their human smuggling campaign to discredit the government in the background of the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review sessions, which the government will participate in November,” he explained. Key organizations of diaspora have come up to defend those involved in these illegal activities, to pressurize the foreign government’s over not retaining those who come to their countries as asylum seekers from Sri Lanka.

He further stated, “the continuous outflow of boats carrying Sri Lankans as asylum seekers is no longer to be considered as an activity that has been carried out by human smugglers as a lucrative trade for mere financial gains by smugglers.” “Its perpetrators have a sinister political agenda, which is unfolding as with the recent arrests made by Sri Lanka Navy with steps being taken by the government to intensify border security of the sea,” he added.

By Chamikara WEERASINGHE
Source: Daily News (Sri Lanka)