Sri Lankan Immigration To Australia

Sri Lankans have experienced many problems within their country, such as citizen discord, and to find new jobs. But why come to Australia? To find out, your gonna have to read on.

Why did Sri Lankans Immigrate?

Well, back when Australia was slowly becoming a developed country, many Sri Lankans that didn't have jobs or feel safe in Sri Lanka arrived in Australia to make a new life. The Civil War of Sri Lanka was a big factor, as well as poverty. Many Sri Lankans came to Australia hoping for a better life. However, if they came before 1973, they may have been forced to go home due to the White Australia Policy, which stated that only people of European or white descent may immigrate to Australia.

When did Sri Lankans Immigrate?

Sri Lankans started coming to Australia in the 1950s-1960s, but not in large groups until the mid-1970s. After all these years, half of Sri Lankan Australians live in Victoria. During the Civil War, many Tamils and Burghers began fleeing away from the fighting. After the War, Sinhalese began coming for better jobs and better lives.

What challenges did Sri Lankans face?

As I stated earlier, the White Australia Policy kept many immigrants, not just Sri Lankans, away from a slowly building economy. So when they came to Australia, they were forced to go back. If you came after the White Australia Policy, you still may have been forced to go back to your country. If you didn't have the correct passport or documents, you would either have to turn back or spend time in a detention center until they were allowed to enter.