HR Groups Urge Govt. To Welcome Refugees From Afghanistan Right Time To Offer Help

Several rights groups have urged Sri Lankan Government to provide visas for human rights defenders, journalists and others at risk in the crisis-ridden Afghanistan. Besides, the National peace council has called on the Government to be a part of the international effort to provide refuge to those who wish to leave Afghanistan, which is a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), of which Sri Lanka is a founder member.In the aftermath of this crisis the Daily Mirror contacted human rights activists and other concerned groups to obtain their opinion.

- Nishantha Hewage

UNHCR and Sri Lanka

During the incumbent Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s presidency in 2005, Sri Lanka signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to facilitate the asylum-seeking process when asylum seekers come to Sri Lanka and apply for refugee status. As a result, those who came to Sri Lanka seeking refugee status could apply for it through the UNHCR. Since Sri Lanka is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention, Sri Lanka does not have a national law to provide permanent resettlement for those seeking refuge. Sri Lanka has hosted refugees temporarily for several years before a third country accepts them for permanent resettlement. Today there are about 1300 foreign refugees in the country.

Concern for asylum seekers

Speaking to the Daily Mirror refugee rights activist Ruki Fernando said the asylum-seeking procedure was facilitated through shared information between the Government and the UNHCR. Mr. Fernando said the asylum-seeking procedure involved mutual dialogues and communication between the government and the UNHCR. The asylum seekers have to abide by the laws of the country.