Australia-Sri Lanka fuel deal keeps patrol boats going after illegal migrants

The Sri Lanka Navy has been receiving a steady supply of fuel through an agreement with Australia.

According to a report in The Australian, Sri Lankan Navy patrol boats are regularly being refuelled, in India, at Canberra’s expense.

“Due to the secrecy of Operation Sovereign Borders activities, the Minister’s office has declined to comment on the agreement, which was put into action about a fortnight ago,” said The Australian.

The report states that the deal was made during Australian Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil’s visit to Colombo, in late June, where she met with ‘several accused Sri Lankan war criminals’ at the helm of military and doubled down on her government’s much-criticised border policy.

Alongside the secret deal, the Sri Lankan Navy openly admitted that the Australian government openly handed over tens of thousands of litres of fuel to the military.

Over 450 tonnes of fuel were reportedly supplied to the Navy recently whilst 27,000 litres of fuel were given to the Air Force.

Sri Lanka is currently in the midst of its worst-ever economic crisis, which has seen severe shortages in basic necessities in essential goods, such as food, medicine and fuel. Last week, Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera declared that fuel distribution across the island would be restricted for 12 months because of Sri Lanka’s scant foreign exchange reserves.

Australia’s deal and donations come as part of growing ties with the war crimes accused Sri Lankan military. Last week, an Australian vessel, docked in Colombo, as it forcibly sent back 46 asylum seekers who were looking to flee Sri Lanka. This is the first time that asylum seekers, fleeing Sri Lanka, are forcibly brought to the island on board an Australian Border Force ship.