COLOMBO, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka and Australia have agreed to further strengthen their commitment to countering the illegal people smuggling trade, a joint statement released by the Prime Minister's Office said here Wednesday.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull, have underlined the importance of continuing to counter the illegal people smuggling trade, which puts vulnerable peoples' lives at risk and enriches criminal networks.
Both leaders emphasized their pledge to detect and deter people smuggling ventures and to strengthen the close working relationship between agencies, the joint statement said.
Wickremesinghe who is currently on a four-day official visit to Australia, urged compatriots who are being held in Australian-run immigration detention centers to come home.
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