By Feizal Samath
COLOMBO, Jul 18 2003 (IPS)

Relaxed entry rules into Sri Lanka for Indians and Pakistanis aimed at boosting tourism and trade has also led to the increasing use of the island nation as a conduit for human smuggling to the west, mainly Italy, officials here say.

Intense patrolling by U.S. warships on sea routes to Italy has also been forcing people from South Asia, for instance Pakistan, to look for other routes and use places like Colombo to reach their western destinations.

On Jul. 1, Sri Lankan authorities detained 260 Pakistanis as they attempted to board a ship named ‘Invincible’ lying off the southern coast bound for Italy. That marked the first time foreigners were discovered illegally leaving Sri Lankan shores on a foreign ship.

”This is a disturbing trend and we are on the track of the kingpins here and in Pakistan who are responsible,” said Senior Police Superintendent D S Y Samaratunga.

Authorities here are perturbed at the turn of events, particularly since Pakistanis have been using visa-on-arrival access to Sri Lanka for more than 10 years. Indians were offered this facility only since last year.

Hundreds of Indians and other South Asians have been visiting Sri Lanka in the past 18 months, making use of cheaper travel packages and a peaceful environment made possible during the ceasefire that began in December 2001 between the government and Tamil rebels.

Clearly, easier access has brought economic benefits to this South Asian island nation. Indians last year accounted for the largest number of visitors to Sri Lanka, eclipsing traditional tourism-generating markets like Germany and Britain.

But the free and unrestricted flow of South Asians to Sri Lanka also means it is likely that Pakistanis, like those caught this month, may also be using this route for other means.

Intelligence officers from the Navy, who declined to be named, say that the heavy patrolling of the West Indian Ocean entrance into the Red Sea by U.S. warships – since the Sep. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington – may be forcing people to use other channels to enter the west illegally.

Since Sep. 11, U.S. authorities have also placed restrictions on seafarers of many countries, including Pakistan, when entering U.S. ports.

Thus, ”Pakistanis on board non-Pakistani ships are unlikely to arouse suspicion particularly when accompanied by Sri Lankans as they pass U.S. warships in open sea,” said a senior commander from the Sri Lankan navy.

The recent success of Sri Lankans going to Italy illegally by boat may also have prompted other nationals to travel through Colombo. Dozens of Sri Lankans have traveled on un-seaworthy boats under difficult conditions to Italy. Many have succeeded, while the authorities were able to seize only a few boats and their human cargo before they left Sri Lanka.

Police Superintendent Samaratunga said that last year, 808 Sri Lankans and 70 foreigners were arrested while trying to go to Italy on illegal boats. This year, police arrested 70 Sri Lankans and about 300 foreigners, including the latest group of Pakistanis.

Most Sri Lankans seek greener pastures abroad for economic reasons and Italy seems to be the most preferred country now because of easier access than other countries.

David Soysa, director at the Migrant Workers Centre in Colombo, said that Sri Lankans prefer to migrate to Italy for many reasons and economic impetus drives the push for migration to the west.

"There is a labour shortage and the population is ageing. There are also many Sri Lankan networks that help others to hide on arrival," he said in an interview.

He estimates that there are now 50,000 to 100,000 Sri Lankans in Italy. Sri Lankans have found many ways of hiding there and often after three years are able to get citizenship rights after working in hotels, restaurants and shops, Soysa said.

Soysa, who has worked on migration issues for many years, said that the fact that Italy often provides amnesties to illegal immigrants is an additional attraction for Sri Lankans.

The migration into Italy prompted the Sri Lankan government to bring in tighter surveillance of the seas and stricter penalties. Italy, happy with Sri Lankan efforts to deter human smuggling, has also offered 1,000 legitimate job opportunities late last year to Sri Lankans.

In the past few months, police have also detained some Indians and Bangladeshis with forged passports and other documents which they say may be connected to the similar human smuggling operation using the sea route.

It was on a tip-off that a ship that had docked into Colombo port may be involved in human smuggling that Sisira Mendis, director of the Police Criminal Investigation Department, ordered his team into action last month.

The ship had loaded an unusually large quantity of food, such as huge stocks of rice, wheat flour, sugar, and potatoes for its seven-member crew, most of whom were Russian and Ukrainian.

It moved out of Colombo on Jun. 20, then anchored offshore of the southern town of Tangalle.

Close to midnight on Jul. 1, busloads of Pakistanis who arrived in vans and three-wheel taxis got off the small fishing village of Kudawella in the Tangalle district and made their way quietly to fishing trawlers. These vessels were to take them to the Russian-crewed ship.

Six Sri Lankans were also joining them in the journey to Italy. Pakistani nationals were said to have paid up to 500,000 rupees (about 5,000 dollars) whereas Sri Lankan pay more than half that amount.

But because of choppy seas, the shore was deserted and there were no other fishing boats. As the would-be immigrants began boarding the trawlers, police teams came in and navy boats surrounded the ‘Invincible’. All were detained, including the crew.

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