Sri Lanka will be among the several countries supported by the Australian Government to fight people-smuggling in the region.

The Federal Government announced yesterday [07 July] that the law enforcement agencies in Malaysia, Thailand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be provided with additional support, AAP reports.

Australia will provide Indonesia with patrol boats and surveillance aircraft as part of a $25 million package to help fight people-smuggling.

The package also includes new land-based policing surveillance and investigative equipment for partner law enforcement agencies in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The announcement comes a day after Julia Gillard revealed she would seek greater regional co-operation to deal with people smuggling, including establishing a refugee processing centre in East Timor.

The Prime Minister, who inspected Customs vessels and navy patrol boats in Darwin yesterday, said the package underlined the government's commitment to working with regional neighbours on the problem of people-smuggling.

Australia's police presence in the region will also be boosted with another seven federal police officers to be deployed to work with law enforcement partners.