Australia and Sri Lanka agreed to expand cooperation between their naval forces in an effort to crack down on the people smuggling trade. A deal to this effect was reached after talks between Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse when they met on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo. Australia has also donated two navy vessels to Sri Lanka as part of the agreement to enhance the island nation's capability to tackle people smuggling.

Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott (L), who is currently in Sri Lanka to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2013, gives Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa a signed Australian Rugby Union jersey in Colombo, November 17, 2013. (REUTERS/Sri Lankan President's Office/Handout via Reuters)

A press release issued by the Australian prime minister's office on Sunday said, Australia has offered two retired Bay Class patrol boats to Sri Lanka to help its operations to combat people smuggling.

The patrol boats are "agile and with a range, speed and boarding capability that mean they will be well-suited to enhancing the Sri Lankan Navy's efforts to disrupt people smuggling ventures," the press release said.

Reports said Australia authorities will also provide training to the agencies in Sri Lanka, with the patrol boats. Australian navy will operate alongside Sri Lankan Navy to intercept and stop people smuggling in Sri Lankan waters.

Mr Abbott's meeting with Mr Rajapakse on Saturday, came after the Australian prime minister stuck a sympatric note with the Sri Lankan government which is battling international diplomatic pressure on allegation of human rights abuses and slow pace of reconciliation and rehabilitation after the three-decade long war against separatist Tamils.

In Australia, meanwhile, even as the Labor Party welcomed the cooperation with the Sri Lanka government, the Greens opposed the deal. Greens party leader Christine Milne said Australia should not collaborate with Sri Lanka because of its poor human rights record.

"In order to sure up Tony Abbott's cruel and hollow policy to stop the boats he is resorting to collaboration with Sri Lanka and will turn a blind eye to human rights abuses," she said in a statement.

"This has nothing to do with fairness, justice or saving lives," she alleged.

"Any resources provided to Sri Lanka would be better spent in leading a genuine regional solution that cares for refugees by bringing more of them to Australia and by pushing for global action to investigate alleged war crimes," Ms Milne said.

Labor, meanwhile welcomed the move. Labor Senate leader Penny Wong praised the efforts to build closer ties with Sri Lanka.

"Cooperation with our neighbours, cooperation with Sri Lanka is something Labor has said is a priority for a long time," she told Channel Ten.