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TNA appeals to Prez over stranded Lankan migrants in Vietnam

11 Nov 2022

  • MP Charles Nirmalanathan requests they be handed over to UN, opposes repatriation 
BY Mirudhula Thambiah Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Vanni District MP Charles Nirmalanathan appealed to President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday (10) to take necessary steps to hand over the Sri Lankan migrants rescued in Vietnam on Monday (7) to the United Nations (UN) rather than repatriating them to Sri Lanka.  “Among the 303 migrants, some are from the Northern Province; some of their relatives from Mannar contacted me to urge for the safety of their family members. I appeal to President Wickremesinghe to take the necessary steps to hand over the Sri Lankan nationals who were rescued by the Vietnamese authorities on Monday to the UN, rather than repatriating them to Sri Lanka,” he noted. Nirmalanathan appealed: “Based on their requirements, these migrants should be sent to countries of their wish. I also understand from the relatives of the migrants that although what they did was illegal, they sold their jewels and other belongings before leaving Sri Lanka. Therefore, if they return to their home country, it would be quite challenging for them to survive, and they would have to face a worse situation compared to the past. The Government should take the necessary steps to prevent such events in the future and to provide livelihood support to these people.”  He noted that during the war, though many from the North left as refugees to India, now, they are leaving the country because they cannot survive the current economic crisis and fear hunger, he added. “According to the information I have obtained from their relatives, among the 303 persons, 264 are men, 19 are women, and 20 are children. According to what I understand, most of these migrants are from the Northern Province. I addressed this issue in Parliament on Wednesday (9) following requests made by the relatives of the migrants,” he added. “People in the Northern Province are not in a situation to be involved in any sort of self-employment in the current context with the economic crisis that has hit the entire country. Those who are already involved in agriculture and fishing are continuing with their livelihoods but those who want to start a new livelihood are not in a position to proceed due to the lack of facilities. People in the North are already facing land-related issues and some of these lands remain under the control of security forces even at present. So, when the lands are unavailable, they cannot initiate any livelihood, not even to utilise those lands for agriculture,” he said.  Nirmalanathan said that in addition to the land issue, the current economic crisis has also affected them heavily.  “They are in fear of dying of hunger and poverty. This has caused them to leave the country. Some of them have left the country as refugees to India, especially from the Mannar District. A mother from Mannar told me that it would be very helpful if the authorities take measures to send her off to at least India with her son who is now in Vietnam among the other migrants,” he added.  He also did not deny that illegal migration is an offence and that it is against the law but noted that people have been pushed to take the decision due to poverty.  “Illegal migration is an offence and it is against the law, but the affected are trying to leave the country because their livelihoods are unstable. They have no means of surviving the current crisis. I do not justify their illegal claims, but it is quite evident that the economic crisis has hit them terribly,” he added further.  He also said that once these migrants are repatriated to Sri Lanka, the authorities will proceed with legal action against them.  “The legal action will drag on for three to four years and they would have to spend a large amount of money to defend themselves in court. Until the case is concluded, their passports will be confiscated and they will not be able to go to any other country. Their future will be affected. I would like to emphasise that I do not encourage illegal migration, but I am trying to convey their problems as a representative,” he said.  Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday (9) stated that it continues to monitor the progress of Sri Lankan passengers who were rescued and brought to the Port of Vung Tau in Vietnam on Tuesday (8). The Ministry had informed the Sri Lanka Navy that they had received information about a vessel carrying approximately 303 persons believed to be Sri Lankans which was in distress in the waters between the Philippines and Vietnam on Monday. The Navy, having contacted the vessel, informed that the crew had abandoned the vessel with the passengers onboard.  On the initiative of the Ministry, the Navy and the Sri Lankan Diplomatic Missions in the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam together with the regional Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) based in Singapore had co-ordinated the rescue efforts. Subsequently, the Japanese-flagged vessel Helios Leader, having been contacted by the Singapore MRCC, rescued the passengers from the distressed vessel. The passengers were handed over to the Vietnamese authorities at the Vung Tau Port in South Vietnam. The screening of the passengers will be done by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in co-ordination with the Vietnamese authorities and the Sri Lankan Embassy in Vietnam.  The Ministry continues to work closely with the Sri Lankan Missions in the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam, and with the IOM for early repatriation, once the screening process to ascertain their nationality and other formalities are completed.


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