Police takes Rohingya asylum seekers into protective custody following protests

Police took 31 Rohingya asylum seekers who were staying in Mount Lavinia into protective custody yesterday following a demonstration held in front of their housing facility. 

The 31 asylum seekers were taken into custody as protesting Buddhist monks and civilians posed a threat to them, Police Spokesperson Ruwan Gunesakara told Daily FT. 

Gunasekara also said that they were trying to sort out the issue with support from immigration authorities. 

However, the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration, M.N. Ranasinghe said that the matter does not come under the concerns of the Immigration and Emigration Department as they are under the care of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). 

As a practice the department has been informed of the details of the asylum seekers but the department cannot intervene. 

“They are registered with the UNHCR and are taken care of by them. We have been informed of their presence in the country as per practice. But beyond that we have no mandate to get involved,” Ranasinghe told Daily FT. 

The group, which included 16 children, was first apprehended by the Sri Lanka Navy in April. They were then presented to the Mallakam magistrates’ court, initially charged with violating the Immigration Law, a criminal offence under the Sri Lankan legal system, where an order was given to hold the individuals at the Mirihana Immigration Detention Camp. They were later handed over to the UNHCR and have been receiving their support.

The UNHCR did not comment on the issue when contacted. 

The Government earlier stated that there were Rohingya refugees from Myanmar residing in Sri Lanka. 

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs in a statement said that Rohingya refugees who had come to Sri Lanka on three previous occasions had left the country after they were handed over to the UNHCR office. 

Sri Lanka is not a refugee receiving country but has acted as a host country for a small number of refugees over recent years.