At least 8,000 Sri Lankan nationals, including refugees from camps in India, reached Australia since May 2009, when the war in the island nation came to an end.
A source in the Australian immigration department told TOI that 8,170 Lankans arrived in Australia between May 2009 and April 10, 2013. But she declined to specify the ethnicity of the illegal immigrants from Sri Lanka and the manner in which they reached Australian shores.
Statistics show that the influx of Sri Lankans increased after the end of the ethnic war. While only 16 people arrived in Australia in 2008, the year 2012 saw the highest number of 6,428 asylum seekers. Only about 1,000 Lankan migrants, both Tamils and Sinhalese, have been issued settlement visas so far.
“It needs to be determined if Lankan migrants can be engaged under Australia’s international protection obligation, after which they are granted visas meant for refugees,” the immigration officer said. - ToI
