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Australia urges Lanka political reforms
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Australia has called on Sri Lanka to embrace political reforms and reconciliation as a way of securing lasting peace, following
its defeat of the Tamil Tiger rebels.
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. |
LOCAL LINKS
"Time to end emergency" - French envoy07 November, 2009 | Sandeshaya
Sri Lanka admits rights violations06 November, 2009 | Sandeshaya
Australia to expand asylum centreSandeshaya
Australia refuses Tamil refugeesSandeshaya
Migrants seek UN intervention27 October, 2009 | Sandeshaya
Indonesia agrees to asylum dealSandeshaya
Lankan migrants in Indonesia 'very ill'12 October, 2009 | Sandeshaya
EXTERNAL LINKS
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