Australian High Commission
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

24102013SRI LANKAN BOAT ARRIVALS RETURNED TO COLOMBO

MEDIA STATEMENT


Monday 21 October 2013
 


SRI LANKAN BOAT ARRIVALS RETURNED TO COLOMBO


The Australian Government has moved quickly to return Sri Lankans who arrived illegally by boat to Australia.

Seventy-three of 79 Sri Lankans who recently arrived illegally by boat have been sent back to Sri Lanka with the remaining six also due to be returned having been screened out of a protection assessment process.

This new, tougher policy implementation by the elected Abbott Government sends a strong message that if you arrive illegally by boat, you will be sent back to Sri Lanka.

The Australian Government’s policies, under Prime Minister Tony Abbott, are tougher than ever before and ensure that people seeking to come to Australia by boat without a visa do not get to stay in Australia. More than 1100 people who arrived in Australia by boat have been sent home since October 2012.

The message is clear - people who pay smugglers are risking their lives and throwing their money away. There is no visa awaiting them, they will not get what they paid for, they will be sent home.

The Australian Government does not deal in half measures and has the policies and resolve to fight people smugglers and stop illegal boat arrivals.

The government will continue to return people seeking to come to Australia illegally by boat.

People removed involuntarily do not have access to reintegration assistance.

Media enquiries:
All enquiries on this matter should be directed to the Operation Sovereign Borders media briefing.

All enquiries about the OSB briefing should be directed to Customs and Border Protection Media: (02) 6275 6793