Australian envoy urges help for Tamils

PHOTO

Australia's Foreign Minister Stephen Smith shakes hands with Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa during a meeting in Colombo on November 9, 2009. Australia's envoy to Sri Lanka says more must be done to help the country's Tamils in order to stop people smuggling. [Reuters]

VIDEO from Australia Network News

Humanitarian solution needed to curb people smuggling in Sri Lanka

Created: 11/11/2009

Michael Edwards, Colombo

Last Updated: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:43:00 +1100

An Australian government special envoy in Sri Lanka says more must be done to help the country's Tamils if people-smuggling is to be stopped.

John McCarthy is in Sri Lanka to find a solution to people-smuggling.

The government in Canberra is relying on John McCarthy to spearhead its response to the problem.

Mr McCarthy says it is a serious issue that needs Sri Lanka's attention.

"There is a very serious law enforcement issue and anti-criminal issue in this whole problem and that needs to be moved on," he said.

Mr McCarthy is in Colombo to get greater Sri Lankan government help to crackdown on people smugglers.

But Mr McCarthy also says if the problem is to be stopped at its source, then more must be done to help Sri Lankan Tamils who were affected by the country's civil war.

Australian visit

Mr McCarthy's comments come after a visit by Australia's foreign minister, Stephen Smith, to Sri Lanka.

During his trip, Mr Smith and his Sri Lanka counterpart Rohitha Bogollagama signed an agreement to boost law enforcement cooperation on people smuggling.

Mr Smith also pledged Australian aid to Sri Lanka rebuild after its civil war, citing it as an important factor in reducing the demand for people smuggling.

"Sri Lanka faces the great challenge of, in the aftermath of a civil conflict, a terrible civil conflict which lasted for 25 to 30 years, to rebuild, reconstruct and to reconcile and heal, and in that respect Australia wants to give Sri Lanka as much assistance as it can," he said.