Facebook icon
Twitter icon
e-mail icon

Deported asylum seekers detained in Colombo

Eight people who were returned from Reunion Island this week after fleeing Sri Lanka by boat were detained and held in remand on Thursday by Negombo Magistrate's Court. 

The group of eight includes one child, who was later ordered to be released by the magistrate. 

The group were part of 70 people, including 6 children, who had fled on a fishing boat, reaching Reunion Island on February 4. 

Sixty-four of them were deported by French authorities. 

Last year a Tamil refugee, deported from Australia was also detained by Sri Lankan police on arrival in Colombo, and charged by the Sri Lankan authorities for illegally leaving the country. 

The offence carries a maximum sentence of a fine of 200,000 rupees and prison term of five years.

Thileepan Gnaneswaran, a 30 year old father of one was deported after his application for a temporary protection visa was denied.

The deportation has been widely criticised, including by the UN Refugee Agency who condemned Australia's actions to separate a family indefinitely. 

Read more: UNHCR accuses Australia of separating families, after deportation of Tamil father

We need your support

Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. Tamil journalists are particularly at threat, with at least 41 media workers known to have been killed by the Sri Lankan state or its paramilitaries during and after the armed conflict.

Despite the risks, our team on the ground remain committed to providing detailed and accurate reporting of developments in the Tamil homeland, across the island and around the world, as well as providing expert analysis and insight from the Tamil point of view

We need your support in keeping our journalism going. Support our work today.

For more ways to donate visit https://donate.tamilguardian.com.