STRONG SECURITY FRAMEWORK VITAL: DEFENCE SECRETARY

Defence Secretary S.H.S. Kottegoda said yesterday that while it was good to continue discussions on strengthening efforts at preventing people smuggling it was time to consider a stronger security framework to counter terrorism and preventing violent extremism.

He expressed these views when addressing the sixth meeting of the Australia-sri Lanka Joint Working Group (JWG) on Countering People Smuggling and other Transnational Crime. The sessions concluded in Canberra recently.

The meeting was held under the co– chairmanship of Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary S.H.S. Kottegoda and Australia’s Acting Deputy Secretary, Policy Group, Department of Home Affairs, Hamish Hansford.

Mr. Kottegoda said intelligence cooperation and information sharing are priority areas to advance common security objectives providing transparency and building confidence in the Indian Ocean.

He said Sri Lanka considered the JWG as an important platform where both parties have been able to resolve many issues of concern with regard to people smuggling

Intelligence cooperation and information sharing are priority areas to advance common security objectives

and transnational crimes while continuing to do so.

Addressing the meeting the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Canberra, J. C. Weliamuna, highlighted the importance of the continuation of the JWG as the principal forum to address people smuggling and human trafficking the subject matters which are mutually important to both countries.

The High Commissioner expressed his appreciation to the Australian Government for hosting the Sri Lankan delegation attending the sixth JWG. He further stressed that the dialogue between Sri Lanka and Australia is a viable platform to share knowledge and experiences including best practices and views in addressing the scourge of people smuggling and transnational crime ventures.

In his opening remarks, Hamish Hansford highlighted the strong bilateral relations that exist between the two countries and thanked Sri Lanka for its support and partnership in combating people smuggling and transnational border crimes.

The deliberations between the two parties concluded successfully and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Return and Readmission of Persons is scheduled to be signed between the two countries in the near future.

Defence Secretary said Sri Lanka was prepaed to host the Seventh JWG in Colombo in 2020.