Lakshman Hulugalle appointed as Dy. High Commissioner To Sri Lanka Mission in Australia

Former Director General of now defunct Media Center for National Security Lakshman Hulugalle has been appointed as the Deputy Commissioner of Sri Lanka High Commission in Australia and is expected to assume duties on 1st July say reports.

The proposal to appoint Mr. Hulugalla for the post was presented to cabinet meeting by Minister G.L. Peiris amidst protests by several ministers. Meanwhile, media has reported that the President had said any step should be taken to send Mr. Hulugalle away from the country as his stay in the country would be a headache for him.

Mr. Hulugalle is the person who played a main role in the ‘Salaka’ gambling den incident. He was hospitalized twice due to consuming overdoses of sleeping tablets.

An Old Boy of St. Anne's College, Kurunegala Hulugalle was DG of the Media Center for National Security ever since the government came into power in 2009

 

Source - http://www.timeslanka.com/2014/04/10/lakshman-hulugalle-appointed-as-dy-high-commissioner-to-sri-lanka-mission-in-australia/

Registered Migration Agents for Astralia

Migration Agents Registration Authority

The Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority is an office attached to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP). We are based in Sydney and operate nationwide.

Our main objectives are to ensure that:

• clients needing migration services understand their rights
• registered migration agents understand their obligations
• only suitable people are registered as agents and that unsuitable people are refused registration or re-registration
• agents maintain the knowledge and skills needed to provide accurate and timely advice to their clients
• agents are monitored for integrity of conduct and quality of immigration assistance
• clients of registered or formerly registered agents have an effective way to complain
• we handle complaints efficiently.

https://www.mara.gov.au/search-the-register-of-migration-agents/

Australian visa applications lodged from Sri Lanka.

Changes to the processing of applications lodged from clients in Sri Lanka

There will be changes to the receiving offices for those applications from clients in Sri Lanka.  Currently these applications are processed in the Immigration New Zealand (INZ) Bangkok Area Office.

• Effective 17 January 2014, the INZ Mumbai Area Office will process all student visa applications lodged from Sri Lanka. 
• Effective 17 February 2014, the INZ Mumbai Area Office will process all Temporary Entry Category Visa, Skilled Migrant Residence and Permanent Resident Visa applications lodged from Sri Lanka. All other residence applications will be processed in the INZ New Delhi Area Office.

Applications from Sri Lanka lodged before these dates will continue to be processed at the INZ Bangkok Area Office. 

Applicants in Sri Lanka should continue to submit their applications to the Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Colombo. The VAC will check all applications prior to sending to the relevant INZ branch for processing, according to the schedule outlined.

Essential Skills in Demand

Changes to the list of Essential Skills in Demand

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has completed its annual review of two of the Essential Skills in Demand Lists – the Long Term Skill Shortage List and the Immediate Skill Shortage List.  Changes will be in effect from 24th March 2014.