THERE is a misconception among some Australians regarding the issue of Sri Lankan asylum-seekers because of a misinformation campaign carried out by parties with vested interests.

Having met Australian Navy Chief Vice Admiral (VA) Ray Griggs on the sidelines of Galle Dialogue 2012, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa told The Island that Australian support could strengthen ongoing anti-human smuggling operations undertaken by the Lankan navy.

Sri Lanka during the war years bore the brunt of the global phenomenon of the growth and proliferation of the so-called Non-Government Organisations (NGOs). The secessionist war provided the opportunity for international NGOs to establish themselves in the country and to forcefully intervene in national affairs under the guise of humanitarian and anti-corruption activities and purported rural development projects.

The Foreign Ministers of Sri Lanka and Australia launched the Sri Lanka-Australia Joint Working Group (JWG) on People Smuggling and Transnational Crime at the inaugural meeting of the JWG held yesterday at the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development.