Tonight's Dateline: Sri Lanka's New Wave

28 Aug 2012, 11:55 am   -   Source: SBS Dateline
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Mark Davis was with the Sri Lankan navy when it intercepted a boat loaded with asylum seekers bound for Australia. (SBS)

Mark Davis was with the Sri Lankan navy when it intercepted a boat loaded with asylum seekers bound for Australia. (SBS)

Why are asylum seekers from Sri Lanka turning up on boats in Australian waters in ever increasing numbers?

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Why are asylum seekers from Sri Lanka turning up on boats in Australian waters in ever increasing numbers?

Immediately following the premiere of the new series of Go Back To Where You Came From, Mark Davis presents a special edition of Dateline from Sri Lanka tonight at 9.40pm on SBS ONE.

He joins the Sri Lankan navy as it intercepts another boat loaded with asylum seekers bound for Australia, and asks: now the country’s civil war is over, why are things so bad that people are still desperate to leave?

And Mark talks to human traffickers, who tell him they are undeterred by Australia’s tough new offshore processing laws.

The Sri Lankan Government says life is improving and people should be more patient, but why is its message failing to get across?

Mark interviews Media and Information Minister, Keheliya Rambukwella, about the serious political issues still facing Sri Lanka.

And he hears from expert, Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, that the dire economic situation is now also playing a role in driving people to flee.

Also on tonight's program, Evan Williams reports from southern India, where 140,000 Tamils sought refuge during the war in Sri Lanka.

The refugees say they now fear for their safety if they return to their homeland, and say they are desperate to reach Australia at any cost.

Evan's report looks at how the people smugglers operate, and gives a graphic account of the conditions asylum seekers face on board the boats.

See Dateline’s special on Sri Lanka’s asylum seekers on Tuesday at 9.40pm on SBS ONE, and read more now on the Dateline website.

Dateline , India , Sri Lanka , Evan Williams , Go Back To Where You Came From , Australia , Asylum Seekers , Boat People , Refugees , Tamils , Mark Davis

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Your Comments

Telling more of the story about why Tamils are seeking asylum

Marie - from Melbourne , 9 months ago

Pleased to see this story providing background on the conditions in Sri Lanka from which Tamils are fleeing. The Australian Government is misleading us in suggesting that it is safe for Tamils in Sri Lanka. We welcome migrants - and we have no reason to be so hard hearted torwards asylum seekers.

Who own these boats,

rohan - from USA, 9 months ago

Yes economy wont get fixed in days, and Sri Lankan tamil people who live in india have no comforts at all compared to what they had back in Sri lanka, These boats are owned by Tigers and it has no official value to them any more and best is to use them to transport all tiger members to Australia. As no owners the guys who used to pilot these boats are taking a risk of 2 things make money and risk in get to otherside of the world.Sri Lankan govt should close there eyes as all criminals land.

Wrong language used

Marilyn - from Angaston, 9 months ago

It is not trafficker to provide transport for asylum seekers, to be trafficking there must be force and ongoing exploitation. They are allowed to leave their own countries to seek asylum and pretending that the Sri Lankan government are not persecuting the tamils is deranged. Why do our media have to do this? Asylum seekers come here in their thousands from all over the world and the media never harass them because they fly but those who fly are mostly crooks.

New Zealanders are coming too

shane - from Sydney, 9 months ago

Over 100000 New Zealand economic migrants have arrived in Australia in the last two years. No questions asked.

Who is really to blame for the Asylum Seekers

Shalzac - from Gold Coast Qld, 9 months ago

We want a resolution to this issue, but we miss the point. They are trying to get away from HELL and go to a place with opportunities. Why are so many coming here, easy we are advertising around the world via recruitment campaigns and through our media. Labor shortages for mining, Health services and Electrical engineers are advertised internationally. Mining magnates greed is the real problem here and should stop blaming the innocent and look at the guilty. It will reduce if we stop the greed!!

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