SUNIL JAYASIRI 
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Australia to make a stable society in SL
Visiting Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr has announced millions of dollars in aid to boost educational opportunities in Sri Lanka, hoping it will help stem the flow of illegal immigrants from the island.
Carr told reporters in Colombo that $A34.35 million will be spent over four years to help some four million primary and secondary school children in Sri Lanka and contribute to a "stable society with economic growth".
"We've got an interest in a stable Sri Lanka... with economic growth," he said, adding that improving educational opportunities in Sri Lanka was in Australia's interest in order to tackle problems of people smuggling and human trafficking.
Carr is on a three-day visit for talks with Sri Lankan leaders on measures to deal with the increased flow of boatpeople attempting to seek asylum in Australia.
Sri Lanka's defence ministry announced on Friday that nearly 3000 of the country's nationals had been stopped from journeying by boat to Australia during the current year.
Australia has sent more than 500 Sri Lankans back to Colombo since August. (AAP)
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