GPS tracker plan aims to stop refugee boats

Australia is to give Sri Lanka thousands of GPS trackers in an attempt to stop fishing boats being hijacked by people smugglers, after a sharp resurgence in the number of asylum seekers trying to reach Australia since the federal election last month.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sent Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil on an urgent trip to Colombo. Albanese’s government said the 4200 trackers would help Sri Lanka ensure its fishing fleet was not used for human trafficking or fishing in prohibited zones.

At least four Sri Lankan boats carrying refugees have been intercepted in recent weeks. The country has been gripped by protests and economic turmoil after the resignation of Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister.

The renewed efforts to reach Australian shores have ended a two-year hiatus in the people smuggling trade, according to the government in Canberra.

In 2012-13, more than 20,000 asylum seekers arrived in Australia by boat. Tough new policies that year allowed officials to intercept boats and fly asylum seekers immediately back to their country of origin. The policies stopped arrivals but led to concerns at the United Nations, and protests by human rights groups.

Australia’s policies also include overseas processing for asylum seekers. O’Neil said these policies would continue under Albanese’s government. ‘‘It is a fruitless journey.’’

Sri Lanka’s debt-laden economy has ‘‘collapsed’’ after months of shortages of food, fuel and electricity, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has told parliament. The economy is foundering under the weight of heavy debts, lost tourism revenue and other effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, and surging costs for commodities.

Wickremesinghe said a rescue package from the International Monetary Fund seemed to be the country’s only option.