Sri Lanka
(asked on 22nd October 2014) - View Source
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the government of Sri Lanka on the decision of the Sri Lankan Court of Appeals to halt the forced deportation of Christians and members of other religious minorities.
This question was answered on 29th October 2014
Last month, the Sri Lankan Appeals Court lifted the temporary suspension on the deportation of asylum seekers and refugees from Sri Lanka. We are concerned that deportations have resumed. Officials at our High Commission in Colombo have raised our concerns with the Sri Lankan government, including by joining an EU demarche to the Sri Lankan government on this issue. We have made clear that deportations should only be carried out in accordance with Sri Lanka’s international obligations. We continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in contact with the Office of the High Commission for Refugees.
Last month, the Sri Lankan Appeals Court lifted the temporary suspension on the deportation of asylum seekers and refugees from Sri Lanka. We are concerned that deportations have resumed. Officials at our High Commission in Colombo have raised our concerns with the Sri Lankan government, including by joining an EU demarche to the Sri Lankan government on this issue. We have made clear that deportations should only be carried out in accordance with Sri Lanka’s international obligations. We continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in contact with the Office of the High Commission for Refugees.