Welcoming the High Court ruling halting the deportation of Tamil asylum seekers from the UK on Thursday, David Mepham, the UK director of Human Rights Watch said,
"This is a very dramatic development. It is incredibly welcome that a High Court judge has recognised the serious risk facing failed Tamil asylum-seekers.
"This should be a wakeup call for the British government. Its existing policy towards Sri Lanka is fundamentally flawed and needs to be seriously re-thought."
The ruling by Justice Eady has been widely welcomed by barristers representing similar clients, who have cautiously suggested it has wider applications.
Speaking to Channel 4 News, one barrister said,
"It’s not a blanket order, but we believe it’s applicable to each and every Sri Lankan Tamil who has ever been involved in politics or has past associations with the [now defeated] Tamil Tigers."
Another said,
"One of my clients was on the verge of being put on the bus to the airport. He and another failed asylum-seeker were taken off the bus. Another of my clients, was already at the airport and was taken off the plane."