Australia opens out to Sri Lankans

The immigration system has taken into account the various diversified needs of its possible migrants and has developed a set of rules to cover every request of those interested to enter or remain in Australia.

With people leaving Sri Lanka looking for greener pastures, Australia is opening up their doors and welcoming some of the immigrants. Motor mechanics, refrigeration technicians, and hairdressers are some of the people joining the ‘brain drain’ of doctors, accountants and engineers leaving the country.

Janaka Wickramanayake

The reasons for the exodus are that these workers are more adequately compensated for their skills abroad and also the unstable security situation in the country.

Janaka Wickramanayake, Barrister & Solicitor and a Registered Migration Agent practicing in Immigration Law in Melbourne explained to The Sunday Times FT about the migration process. “Australia is not at all an over populated country and has a huge shortage of skilled professionals and labour. As such the Australian Government has structured its entire immigration system to cater for this need.

The immigration system has taken into account the various diversified needs of its possible migrants and has developed a set of rules to cover every request of those interested to enter or remain in Australia. In fact, the Australian immigration system is generally regarded as one of the most structured in the world. There are also a variety of support and referral agencies that new migrants can access to help with settling in,” he said.

According to Wickramanayake, the unemployment rate in Australia is at a 30-year low of 4.9%. He said that there is a huge demand for professionals such as engineers and accountants. “Further there is a huge demand in the case of trades’ people such as automotive electricians, chefs, electrician, fitters, furniture upholsters, hairdressers, metal machinists, motor mechanics, panel beaters, refrigeration and air-conditioning mechanics and many more tradesmen,” he added.

Wickramanayake says immigration laws in Australia keep changing. Thus, he explained, using a registered migration agent comes with an advantage. “The whole process will be handled by this professional who will be available for you throughout the process to guide you and to give you all the necessary backing.

The migration agent will make sure that the relevant documentation is presented to the Australian authorities in the most appropriate way,” he said.

He also said that in Australia it is illegal to provide paid migration advice unless registered with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA).

The migration agent registration process provides an assurance that registered agents have had their integrity checked, and their knowledge of migration law and procedure tested.
(LP)