A protest was held near the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo today against the government’s decision to deport the Rohingya refugees from Myanmar who had arrived in Sri Lanka recently seeking asylum.
The protest was conducted by several civil activists, who claimed that the Rohingya refugees are placed at an Army Camp and UN agencies have been denied access to them.
The protesters urged the government to refrain from deporting the Rohingya refugees and consider an alternative solution.
A group of 116 Rohingya refugees was rescued off the Mullaitivu coast on 19 December 2024.
On 03 January 2025, Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijepala said the government was considering deporting the Rohingya refugees.
However, the decision caused an uproar, with several parties including politicians and civil activists, calling on the government to reconsider its move. (Islandnews)
