The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) wrote to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake seeking access to the 115 Rohingya asylum seekers from Myanmar who are sheltered at Keppapulavu Air Force Camp, Mullaithivu.
On 27 December 2024, the HRCSL wrote to the President emphasising that, according to section 11(d) of the HRCSL Act, No. 21 of 1996, the powers and functions of the Commission extend not only to Sri Lankan citizens but to “any person” detained within Sri Lanka. Therefore, the Commission has the statutory authority to access the said Air Force Camp and monitor the detention conditions of all asylum seekers, including the children present.
The move to write to the President came after a team of officials from the HRCSL, including a director, attempted to monitor the detention conditions of these asylum seekers at the Sri Lanka Air Force Camp in Mullaitivu in the Northern Province. They were refused access to the asylum seekers.
HRCSL requested the President to issue appropriate directives to relevant institutions to facilitate access to the asylum seekers. Additionally, it reaffirmed its statutory obligations to examine the conditions under which these asylum seekers are being held, a statement from HRCSL said.
"Furthermore, the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration and other responsible officials who obstructed the HRCSL’s attempts to monitor the detention conditions of the said asylum seekers have been summoned to appear before the Commission on 31 December 2024 at 10:30 a.m., to provide an explanation regarding their actions,"
Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) base at Mullaitivu was named as a temporary detention place from 23rd December 2024 onward in terms of section 48 of the Immigrants and Emigrants Act, according to the relevant gazette notification issued by the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs on December 30. (Northeastern Monitor/December 31)
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