France deports 46 illegal immigrants, issues Australian type warning

France has issued an Australian-type warning to Sri Lankans seeking refuge in French territory.The French embassy in Colombo has issued the warning recently in the wake of the deportation of 46 Sri Lankans last Friday evening (Jan 13) after the Administrative Authority of Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean.

As far as Sri Lanka is concerned, Australia has adopted the toughest policy towards illegal immigrants in line with its high profile ‘Operation Sovereign Borders’ launched in 2013 to discourage unlawful migration in any circumstances.

The French embassy here said that those who had reached French territory of Reunion on Dec. 24, 2022, were deported after the rejection of legal remedies taken by them.  Declaring such attempts would be pointless, the embassy warned the journey boat in extremely precarious conditions is particularly dangerous and placed the lives of migrants, sometimes children, in serious danger.

“The fight against human smuggling and smugglers is a priority for France, which works in close cooperation with the countries of departure to increase its effectiveness. This embassy emphasizes in this respect the excellent operational cooperation that exists with Sri Lanka, in compliance with our respective legislations,” the embassy said.

Responding to The Island queries, the embassy spokesperson said that there had been a few deportations in the previous years though the latest development indicated an increase in expulsions.

Navy headquarters said that those who had entered French territory in the Indian Ocean via sea were repatriated to Sri Lanka by air.According to the Navy, the group had set out aboard a multi-day fishing trawler (IMUL – A- 0559 CHW) from Negombo on Dec 02, 2022. The group of individuals consisted of 43 men, including the crew of the multi day fishing trawler, 02 women and a 13-year-old boy. The Navy identified them as residents of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Batticaloa, Chilaw and Negombo.

The Navy said that they would be handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for investigations.Human smugglers based in Dehiwela area had charged each person Rs 200,000 to Rs 450,000, the Navy said, urging people not to waste their hard earned money on such risky sea journeys.The Navy stated: “The French government does not entertain the illegal entry of people to the Réunion Island and such people will be immediately repatriated upon apprehension.”

(SF)