Saturday 20 July 2013

Australian PM selects SL as a model to discourage illegal immigrants

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is preparing to adapt the Sri Lankan model to discourage illegal immigrants as the number of such immigrants to Australia is on the increase. An Australian newspaper reported that the initiatives taken by Sri Lanka to prevent its people migrating through illegal means have worked well. Australia’s decision to send the illegal immigrants back to Sri Lanka has also contributed towards the substantial decline of illegal immigrants.

Iranians become the main group of asylum seeker arrivals and the large numbers of Sri Lankans seen last year has significantly reduced this year. However, Iran does not welcome back its fleeing citizens. At the same time, Kevin Rudd’s government will also continue to send all illegal immigrants directly to the Pacific Islands.

 The  Prime Minister announced that no more boat-people will be resettled in Australia as refugees, with all unauthorised arrivals to be sent to poverty-stricken Papua New Guinea. From now on, any asylum-seeker who arrives in Australia by boat will have no chance of being settled in Australia as a refugee, said Rudd, unveiling his new hardline border protection policy. 

Meanwhile, the Australian Emigration Authorities said that there is a significant decrease in the number of illegal immigrants arriving in the Australian shores from Sri Lanka although there is an increase from some other countries. The number of Sri Lankans attempted to enter Australia last year amounted to 6428 people. The Australian authorities said that increased sea patrols by Sri Lankans authorities, as well as Australia's policy to return Sri Lankans who arrive by boat, have made a significant impact on the illegal arrivals. Kevin Rudd government has praised Sri Lanka for its successful initiatives to control economic refugees migrating illegally to Australia