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By APD writer Easwaran
**COLOMBO, Sept. 3 (APD) ** – Australia, on Tuesday warned Sri Lankan asylum seekers of its ‘Zero Chance’ policy saying anyone attempting to enter the country illegally will not be accepted.
The head of Australia’s operation to combat illegal maritime migration was in the capital Colombo and the coastal town of Negombo on Tuesday calling upon Sri Lankans to join in efforts to warn of the dangers and long term consequences of attempting illegal immigration by boat.
In charge of Australia’s Operation Sovereign Borders, Major General Craig Furini AM, CSC said that since the establishment of Operation Sovereign Borders in September 2013, Australia has worked with Sri Lanka to return 204 people from 12 people smuggling boats with no one successfully making the journey to Australia.
“Australia shares a strong and productive relationship with the Sri Lankan Government. Together we are working to combat people smuggling, educate the vulnerable people they target and stopping people from dying at sea,” Major General Furini said.
Last month, 13 illegal immigrants were promptly returned to Sri Lanka after a people smuggling vessel was intercepted by Australian authorities. The 13 men were handed over to Sri Lankan authorities and are under further investigation. They join 25 other individuals from two other vessels who have been returned to Sri Lanka since May 2019.
“Australia’s tough border protection policies mean no one who travels illegally by boat will ever be allowed to live or work in Australia. By attempting the illegal journey, they automatically lose any chance of legal migration to Australia they may have had.”
In June 2019, the Australian Government launched a ‘Zero Chance’ campaign to dissuade potential illegal immigrants from joining people smuggling ventures by informing them of Australia’s strong policies and the dangers of illegal migration to Australia by sea.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)