Mr. Smilth is due in Sri Lanka on Monday to discuss ways of tackling people smuggling

In advance of his visit to Colombo on Monday, the Australian foreign minister, Stephen Smith said his talks with Sri Lankan officials would also discuss ways of tackling people smuggling.

His statement comes amid a stand off in Indonesia involving scores of Tamil asylum seekers, who are refusing to leave an Australian vessel that rescued them last month.

The Australian authorities say the end of the conflict in Sri Lanka has led to a surge in Tamil asylum seekers.

Christmas Island

The minister will be accompanied by the newly named Australia's special representative to Sri Lanka, John McCarthy and other officials.

Earlier the Australian government announced plans to significantly expand a detention centre on Christmas Island to cope with the influx of asylum seekers.

The capacity will be increased to more than 2000 beds from the original level of 1200.

The government said it was in response to a surge in arrivals, particularly from Sri Lanka.

The Australian government has been struggling to cope with a surge in asylum seekers, there's been more than a tenfold increase on last year's figure of 161.