As part of broader measures to prevent human smuggling on the high seas, Australia is working with India and Sri Lanka to rehabilitate refugees interested in going back to the island nation, said Australian Border Force Commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg on Friday.
“There are about 1,00,000 Sri Lankans who fled to Tamil Nadu in the past. There are certain number of them who want to go back. We have an obligation to assist India and Sri Lanka in that resettlement,” he said in an interaction with a select group of journalists.
He said his force had been actively working with the Indian Coast Guard in countering smuggling operations to prevent Sri Lankan diaspora in Tamil Nadu from reaching Australia.
Funds assigned
The resettlement is of interest to Australia in the broader efforts to prevent human smuggling and has committed $1-2 million for the resettlement over the next two years. “We want to ensure that the money goes for practical outcomes of resettlement and rehabilitation and sustain them once they return to Sri Lanka,” Mr. Quaedvlieg said.
On the time lines for rolling out the programme, he said the issue of resettlement was under discussion for the last six months and could begin implementation “probably in the next few months.”
Talks with officials
Mr. Quaedvlieg is accompanying the Australian Border Force Cutter ‘Ocean Shield’ which is currently docked in Chennai. In his visit to Tamil Nadu on Thursday, he held discussions with officials in Chennai. One of the objectives of his visit is to continue discussions on the issue of resettlement as well as take forward the counter-terrorism cooperation.
Australia had seen huge influx of refugees through the sea in the past.
