The Chief of the International Organisation for Migration (IMO) for Sri Lanka and Maldives Sarat Dash called on the Northern Province Governor Dr. Suren Raghavan yesterday at the Governor’s Secretariat.
The case of Sri Lankan refugees living in India had been extensively discussed and attention was also given to the measures to bring them back to Sri Lanka.
Sarat Dash said that the IOM could spend Rs. 6.5 million to bring back the Sri Lankan Tamils living in India as refugees, and that there is a delay in the process of bringing them to Sri Lanka due to some unexpected reasons. He requested the Governor’s help with this.
The Governor said he would talk to the officials of the Foreign Affairs Ministry and other relevant officials in this regard and would take necessary actions to assist IOM.
At the same time, Sri Lankan refugees in India are fully entitled to return to their nation. The Governor said that when they return to Sri Lanka, it must be ensured that they will be provided with proper facilities. He also pointed out that they could never be allowed to live as refugees in Sri Lanka again.
(FT)