The Sri Lankan High Commissioner further stated in an interview with Globe and Mail yesterday (August 16), that there have been “unofficial discussions” with Canadian authorities in recent weeks on the subject, but that more could be done between the two countries.

“There is no deal at the moment,” Ms. Wagiswara said. “I think exchange of information and intelligence is the key.”

She also said the arrangement would be similar to a deal Sri Lanka reached with Australia last November to improve the flow of intelligence information between the countries. The deal fuelled the impression among Sri Lankans that Australia will stop at nothing to prevent an influx of Tamil migrants. While many Tamils have headed to Australia in the past, experts say there is a perception now that it is easier for them to enter Canada.

Canadian Public Safety Minister, Vic Toews said earlier that the only way to prevent ships from coming to Canada is to stop them before they leave foreign ports.

“Discussions we might or might not be having with Sri Lanka on the issue are privileged, and as such, details about the issue are not something we would make public,” said Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Laura Markle.

Ottawa is processing some 500 Tamil refugee claimants who arrived in British Columbia last week, and has raised the possibility that other boats are on their way. Federal officials have discussed changing laws or obtaining greater co-operation from Asian countries to stop the human smugglers, but have said they will not prevent ships from entering Canadian waters for safety reasons.

Both Canada and Sri Lanka have raised fears that some of the migrants may be linked to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which has been banned in Canada as a terrorist organization and that the organizers of the voyage are terrorist supporters who stand to make millions of dollars in profits by organizing ocean trips like that of the MV Sun Sea.