Daily Mirror Online
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Deputy Minister of External Affairs Gitanjana Gunawardena said that Sri Lanka, has enhanced surveillance in intercepting illegal trafficking in the high seas, especially in curtailing trafficking of persons and goods smuggling by small boats.
He told the 17th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Hanoi Vietnam that solutions to the illegal and irregular migration problem should include transparent policies by originating, transit and receiving countries to discourage illegal migration and irregular movement of people.
“Granting asylum or refugee status on perceived claims of persecution would only be a covert encouragement for illegal and irregular migration. Hence, security networks and policing of territorial waters alone may not be able to prevent the illegal movement of people and illicit trade,” he said.
The Deputy Minister also highlighted the ability of terrorist organizations to operate by exploiting cross border linkages, and to have easy access to sophisticated and advanced technologies.
He therefore emphasised the importance of marshalling collective efforts to curtail transnational operations of terrorists, including financing of illicit activities by Diaspora groups and sympathizers.
“No country or region would be entirely free and safe of the scourge of such threats and associated illicit activities” without collective efforts”, he said.
He also reiterated the importance of abiding by the time tested principles of non-interference in the internal affairs of one another as well as the mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and national identity of all nations.
© Daily Mirror Online
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