Sri Lankans fled to India offered pathway to return home

The Cabinet of Ministers have approved the proposal to facilitate the voluntary return of Sri Lankans registered as refugees in India, after migrating through irregular routes without formal passports due to the unstable situation in the country during the war.

Advice from the Attorney General was obtained regarding the provision of required immigration clearance facilities to this group expecting to return to the country through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs.

The measures taken under this programme are as follows:

Individuals who migrated to India before 2006-08-01:
A clearance report from the State Intelligence Service will be obtained regarding individuals displaced in India after departing the country without an approved port, whose identity as a Sri Lankan is confirmed by Sri Lankan foreign mission offices in that country.
A temporary passport will be issued after confirming that they are not individuals who committed treason or other serious offences specially provided for by law. Thereafter, an opportunity will be granted to enter the country through an approved port without taking any legal action under the Immigrants and Emigrants Act No. 20 of 1948.

Individuals who migrated to India during the period from 2006-08-01 to 2009-05-19:
A special opportunity will also be given to Sri Lankans who irregularly migrated to India during the period up to the date the war ended, whose identity is confirmed and a clearance report is obtained from the State Intelligence Service as mentioned above.
In accordance with the powers vested in the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration, an opportunity will be provided to enter the country through an approved port without taking any legal action under the Immigrants and Emigrants Act.

However, the government emphasises that if there are individuals convicted of treason and offences with special provisions by law, steps will be taken to detain them at the port and refer them to the relevant institutions for necessary legal action.