News
Forty one more Lankans deported from Australia
…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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President scheduled to attend a meeting with representatives of Germany’s Tourism and Travel Industry Associations and Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce today
President Anura Kumara Disanayake who is on an official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany, is scheduled to attend a meeting with representatives of Germany’s Tourism and Travel Industry Associations at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Berlin today (13).
Following this engagement, the President will participate in a Business Forum organised by the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), to be held at its headquarters in Berlin.
President Disanayake is also expected to hold bilateral discussions this afternoon with Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Ms Reem Alabali-Radovan, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.
In the afternoon, the President is further scheduled to meet with members of the Sri Lankan community residing in Germany.
Accompanying the President on this official visit are Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath and a delegation of senior government officials, all of whom will participate in these engagements.
It has been reported that, former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, General Hamilton Wanasinghe has passed away at the age of 91.
Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake has instructed relevant officials to provide the maximum support necessary to successfully hold the Global Bora Community’s Spiritual Assembly and Convention scheduled to take place in Sri Lanka.
The Secretary to the President issued these instructions during discussions held on Thursday (12) at the Presidential Secretariat regarding the Global Bora Conference and Convention.
The Bora Conference and Convention will be held from 27 June to 05 July, coinciding with the Bora Community’s Spiritual Assembly, centred on the Bambalapitiya Bora Mosque and the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre, with the participation of the community’s Spiritual Leader His Holiness Dr Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin Sahib.
Approximately fifteen thousand members of the Bora Community from India and numerous other countries are expected to arrive in Sri Lanka for this Convention and Conference. Extensive discussions were held regarding the provision of all infrastructure facilities, including airport arrangements, for them.
A group of the Bora Community’s religious leaders, along with officials including the Secretary to the Foreign Ministry, Aruni Ranaraja and Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage, participated in this occasion.
President scheduled to attend a meeting with representatives of Germany’s Tourism and Travel Industry Associations and Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce today
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