Australia and Sri Lanka are working together to tighten law enforcement against people smugglers in the wake of Australia's May 7 announcement that asylum seekers arriving in Australian waters by boat will be transferred to Malaysia, press release from the Australian High Commission in Colombo said.

Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem inaugurated a workshop on May 9 focusing on using the law to deter, prevent and prosecute people smuggling activities, including through the confiscation of the profits or proceeds of crime. The workshop, which was co-hosted by Sri Lanka and Australia, is the latest joint activity undertaken by Sri Lanka and Australia to combat people smuggling.

This cooperation is underpinned by the Australia-Sri Lanka Memorandum of Understanding concerning the Legal Cooperation against the Smuggling of Migrants which was signed during the visit to Sri Lanka by Australia's then Foreign Minister Stephen Smith in 2009.

On 7 May, the Australian and Malaysian Prime Ministers issued a joint statement that outlined a groundbreaking cooperative transfer arrangement that will mean any person who arrives irregularly by sea in Australia could be transferred to Malaysia.

The key message this will deliver to people smugglers and those seeking to make the dangerous sea voyage to Australia is: do not get on that boat.

Under this arrangement, if you arrive in Australian waters and are taken to Malaysia you will go to the back of the queue.

The Australian Government believes that the only way to respond to what is a regional problem is to develop regional solutions.