‘Govt. always discourages illegal travel’-SL

20 July 2013 04:18 am Views - 3001

The External Affairs Ministry yesterday said that the Sri Lankan government as a policy had discouraged illegal travel and would further use all possible modes to dissuade illegal asylum seekers, while claiming that it needed more time to study the ban on such asylum seekers.

“The Sri Lankan government has always been against this sort of activity, as much as it is illegal it outs the lives of those travelling through boats at very great risk.

Therefore as a policy we have taken all measures to dissuade people from taking such drastic measures to seek refuge,” Ministry Secretary Karunathilake Amunugama said adding that the declaration made by the Australian Prime Minister would also serve the purpose of discouraging potential illegal asylum seekers.(Hafeel Farisz)