Australia educates Sri Lankan judges on people smuggling

As part of its efforts to combat the recurring problem of Sri Lankan asylum seekers, Australia has conducted a workshop on transnational crime for Sri Lankan magistrates, the Australian embassy said here today.
This is part of Australia's stepped up efforts in the South Asian island to combat the influx of asylum seekers who risk a treacherous sea journey to arrive in Australia.
The workshop on people smuggling, transnational crime and international crime was attended by some 39 Sri Lankan magistrates from May 31 to June 2, in the west coastal town of Negombo.
The workshop was held under the auspices of the Australia-Sri Lanka Memorandum of Understanding concerning Legal Cooperation against the Smuggling of Migrants signed in December 2009.

Sri Lanka's Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem said, "Sri Lanka and Australia have been closely working together, and with other countries in the region though the Bali Process, to combat people smuggling which has become a serious issue of concern."
"By holding this workshop on people smuggling and mutual legal assistance for magistrates we are fulfilling one of the key priority activities identified at the Joint Working Group meeting and demonstrating our commitment to bilateral legal cooperation against the smuggling of migrants," he said.
The workshop also included presentations from Sri Lankan and Australian experts on obligations under international frameworks, people smuggling investigations and prosecutions (including practical case studies), current bilateral cooperation and the importance of international cooperation in combating people smuggling and transnational crime.

Australia has sent back over 1,300 illegal immigrants from Sri Lanka since mid-August last year.