| Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's special envoy John McCarthy, Sri Lanka to discuss refugees |
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"..Australian and Sri Lankan officials will hold high-level talks on Monday in Colombo on ways to combat people smuggling and illegal immigration, a foreign ministry official said.Australian diplomats in Colombo say Sri Lanka has overtaken Afghanistan and Iraq as the number one source of illegal immigrants entering Australian territory.Foreign Minister Stephen Smith and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's special envoy John McCarthy are due to hold the talks on how to stem the flow of Sri Lankan boat people heading to Australia, the foreign ministry official said..."
Full Text: "We will talk about the illegal migration, especially of Sri Lankans heading off to Australia by boat and seeking refugee status," said the foreign ministry official, declining to be named. The sinking of a boat carrying 39 Sri Lankan migrants in stormy weather in waters northwest of Australia this week left 12 people dead. The migrants were a part of a succession of over 1,500 people from several countries who have made the perilous boat journey to Australia this year. |
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