Australia offers continued support to Sri Lanka

Australia Wednesday offered to support Sri Lanka's post-war progress in any way that it can.

The offer was made during talks between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Australia's Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Scott Morrison here, Xinhua reported.

Morrison was on a visit to Sri Lanka to ceremonially commission two patrol boats gifted by the Australian government to the island nation.

Morrison commended what he described as "very close cooperation" between Australian authorities and Sri Lanka's police and navy in preventing illegal boat carrying asylum-seekers.

"On the economic development front, the progress is significant, " Xinhua quoted Morrison as saying during the meeting with Rajapaksa.

"The progress is fairly evident," he added, noting that the election that took place in the North was also a significant step.

The meeting took place amidst controversy over two Sri Lankan asylum boats which were believed to have reached Australian waters.

The passengers of one boat were returned to Sri Lanka despite opposition to the move while an Australian court prevented the return of the passengers on the second boat.