Sri Lanka has called on refugee receiving countries to expedite the processes of finalizing resettlement claims and to also assist UNHCR to enhance its resource capacity, in order to overcome present difficulties being experienced in Sri Lanka on account of rapid influx of refugees/asylum seekers.
Foreign Minister Peiris
Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva and CDA a.i. Samantha Jayasuriya in a statement to the 65th Session of the Executive Committee of the UNHCR on Thursday in Geneva (2 October 2014), said despite not being a signatory to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, Sri Lanka has been accommodating refugees/ asylum seekers in the country. However, during the last two years Sri Lanka witnessed an almost 700% increase in the arrival of asylum seekers/refugees, resulting in serious law & order, security, as well as health related issues for Sri Lanka. While being sensitive to the humanitarian aspects of asylum seekers/refugees, the Government has sought UNHCR’s assistance in addressing related issues including establishment of a safe house/welfare centre for identified refugees until they are resettlement, regularization of the return of asylum seekers whose claims have been rejected, expediting the resettlement process; and ensuring adequate facilities and monetary assistance provided to Asylum seekers until their claims are processed or resettlement is found. However these issues remain largely unresolved and Sri Lanka urges UNHCR to work closely with the Government to resolve these issues.
The full statement can be read here.
*Statement by the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka – Geneva
Amarasiri / October 2, 2014
Foreign Minister Peiris
“Sri Lanka has called on refugee receiving countries to expedite the processes of finalizing resettlement claims and to also assist UNHCR to enhance its resource capacity, in order to overcome present difficulties being experienced in Sri Lanka on account of rapid influx of refugees/asylum seekers.”
What about the hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankan refugees kicked out of Lanka by the different Sri Lankan regimes overs the past 30 years?
What did those countries do to them?
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Ebola da Silva / October 8, 2014
Refugee Reeiving countries please do hurry up. There are two Sri Lankans who will seek refugee status soon. Gona.L.Peiris and Cabraal.
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anonymous / October 2, 2014
When are you hoping to disappear from this planet?. Things must be rosy and everything must be hunky dory in Sorry Lanka now, thanks to the boot lickers like you, Cabral……. Is that the reason for the increased influx of refugees or is it because Sorry Lanka has become a heaven for drug-dealers, criminals, international terrorists, gamblers, money launderers, child abusers to name a few.
After all what has happened, you are asking for
“and to also assist UNHCR to enhance its resource capacity, in order to overcome present difficulties being experienced in Sri Lanka on account of rapid influx of refugees/asylum seekers”
help from the UNHCR. What sorry state you lot are in.
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D.Nimal / October 3, 2014
Refugee is not that national issue that is International Humantrain matters has to address by regardless any relevant Govt. where there does matter in or out that in Refugee Convention or Refugee Protocol of 1951 and 1967. In my point of view current asylum seeks in our soil has to address by Govt. of Sri lanka, that who ever in power that base on Humantrain issues and its grounds.
Regardless their country of origin or religion roots of background and ethnicity roots are totally irrelevant as far as for asylum seeks are concern, while ideologies also not matter to be effects on these issues are concerns.
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