Think twice before the dangerous voyage
The International Organisation for Migration has launched a public awareness campaign on the hazards of illegal migration, under the theme "Think Twice Before Embarking on a Dangerous Voyage".

Addressing a news conference, Shantha Kurukulasuriya, Senior Project Officer of IOM, Sri Lanka, said there had been an increase of Sri Lankans being smuggled to destinations such as Western Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand in the recent past.

Interior Ministry Secretary M. N. Junaid said Sri Lanka was fast becoming a transit point to illegal migrants from South Asian countries and other neighbouring states as its visa policy exclude people from 70 countries the need to apply for forward visas.
He said the abuse of this concession had tarnished the image of the country.

The information campaign is being funded by the European Commission.
The IOM, an inter-governmental organisation, with 101 member countries and 31 observer countries, is committed to the principle that human and orderly migration benefits the society as well as the migrants.

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