Britain seeks Sri Lanka’s cooperation to prevent illegal immigration

• The meeting was also attended by UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Director Ben Mellor who was visiting Sri Lanka

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   

The United Kingdom (UK) has sought assistance from the Sri Lankan government to prevent Sri Lankans from coming to Britain as illegal immigrants.  

 British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Sarah Hulton who met Public Security Minister Tiran Alles recently requested the Minister to cooperate in preventing illegal Sri Lankan immigrants coming to Britain.   

The meeting was also attended by UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Director Ben Mellor who was visiting Sri Lanka.   
The current situation in the country was also discussed during the meeting.   

The Public Security Minister said that a long discussion about the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) was also held.   
Highlighting the recently introduced new laws in Britain, the minister pointed out that the introduction of these laws is absolutely necessary to maintain law and order in the country.   
Meanwhile, Mr. Mellor inquired from the minister on four suspects arrested under the PTA.   

The Minister informed the officials that all four of them were suspects in connection with the Easter Sunday bomb attacks and that they were arrested and brought before the law under the PTA that existed at that time.   

Minister Alles further pointed out that the proposed new anti-terrorism law should be balanced to maintain law and order.   
Also, the British High Commissioner informed the Minister that a training workshop on the use of rules and regulations will be organized for the officers of the Sri Lankan Police through zoom conferencing.