Sri Lanka, Australia reaffirm commitment to countering illegal people smuggling trade

Sri Lanka and Australia have agreed to further strengthen their commitment to countering the illegal people smuggling trade, a joint statement released by the Prime Minister's Office said here Wednesday.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull, have underlined the importance of continuing to counter the illegal people smuggling trade, which puts vulnerable peoples' lives at risk and enriches criminal networks.

Both leaders emphasized their pledge to detect and deter people smuggling ventures and to strengthen the close working relationship between agencies, the joint statement said.

Wickremesinghe who is currently on a four-day official visit to Australia, urged compatriots who are being held in Australian-run immigration detention centers to come home.

Several Sri Lankan immigrants are arrested by local authorities each year for their attempts to travel to Australia illegally by boat.

Wickremesinghe claimed the Sri Lankans had broken the law in trying to flee to Australia but insisted they would not face prosecution if they returned.

Meanwhile the joint statement released Wednesday further said that both leaders had also agreed to have closer cooperation and engagement in the Indo-Pacific to help create a more prosperous and secure region.

"The Prime Ministers reiterated our shared interest in regional stability. As Indo-Pacific neighbors, Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) members and trading nations, both countries benefited from a peaceful and secure maritime domain," the joint statement said. Endit