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Forty one more Lankans deported from Australia

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A section of the latest deportees (pic courtesy SLN)

…total deportation over 1,300 since 2012

Navy headquarters yesterday (10) said that since 2012, 1314 Sri Lankans had been deported by Australia for illegally entering its territory.

The disclosure was made in the wake of the latest deportation. The deported group consisted of 41 persons, including children.

The following is the text of the Navy headquarters statement, issued yesterday: “The Australian Border Force, on 02nd May, 2023, held 41 Sri Lankan nationals at the Australia’s maritime border, while they were attempting to illegally migrate to Australia via sea. A special flight, carrying the group of 41 Sri Lankans, deported by Australian authorities, arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on 09th May 2023.

The Sri Lankan Navy, partnering with other stakeholders who use the Indian Ocean Region, conducts regular patrols and operations to prevent human smuggling to foreign countries, via sea routes.

Reportedly, the group of illegal immigrants set off on the sea voyage from Valaichchenai, Batticaloa, on 10th April, 2023, by a multiday fishing trawler and had been held by Australian Border Force on 02nd May. The apprehended individuals are residents of Colombo, Valaichchenai, Batticaloa, Ottamawadi, and Kalawanchikudi areas. The group of deportees consists of 34 males and three females as well as four individuals, below 18 years of age. Onward investigation into the incident will be conducted by the Department of Immigration and Emigration.

Including this group of people, deported back to Sri Lanka on 09th May, a total of 43 illegal immigrants were returned to Sri Lanka by Australian authorities in 2023. In the same vein, 1314 persons, who attempted to cross the maritime borders of Australia, from 2012 to 2022, had been deported, upon being held by Australian authorities.

As the Sri Lanka Navy and the Sri Lanka Coast Guard make a valiant effort to thwart illegal immigration to Australia by boats, in close coordination with the Australian Border Force, there is no room for illegal migration to Australia by sea. Therefore, the Navy urges people not to be involved in such sea voyages, and to be victims of people smugglers.”



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Members of the National Student Parliament meet PM

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Members of the National Student Parliament met Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Monday [02nd of February] at Temple Trees.

The representatives of the National Student Parliament, representing schools from across the island, visited the Temple Trees following their visit to the Presidential Secretariat and the Parliament.

Expressing her views on the occasion, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated,

“The new education reforms were recently initiated starting from Grade One. Discussions are currently underway to include students entering Grade Six this year into the new education reform process in the future. The education reforms will not be halted, and the government is committed to implementing them in a systematic manner without shortcomings”.

She further noted that the reforms are being carried out under five main pillars, with the government’s key objective being to reduce disparities and provide children with quality education, while also nurturing a socially responsible community enriched with human values such as compassion, love for the environment, and a strong sense of civic responsibility.

The occasion was attended by the Deputy Director of Education Kasun Gunarathne, along with officials from the Ministry of Education and representatives of the National Student Parliament.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

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Mrs. I.J. Aberathne appointed Director General of the Department of Trade and Investment Policy

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The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution presented by the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, to appoint Mrs. I.J. Aberathne to the post of Director General of the Department of Trade and Investment Policy with immediate effect.

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Cabinet gives green light to provide equipment for the promotion of Aesthetic Education in schools

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Although the teaching of art subjects such as music, dance, art, and drama under aesthetic education continues in the Sri Lankan school system, it has been observed that there is a severe shortage of equipment required for this purpose in many schools. Furthermore, a situation concerning the lack of modern equipment suitable for the needs of the children has also arisen, and it has been reported that most equipment available at present is outdated and dilapidated. It has been observed that this condition has an adverse effect on the quality of the aesthetic education and overall personality development of the children.

Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution presented by the Prime Minister in her capacity as the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education to implement a project for supplying aesthetic equipment for the promotion of aesthetic education in schools under an estimated cost of Rs. 1,215 million during the period of 2026 to 2028.

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