Those who fled Sri Lanka during war can come back now - Govt spokesman

By Harischandra Gunaratna

Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday said that those who migrated to other countries during the civil strife, via illegal and other means, would be welcome to return to Sri Lanka and the same would apply to Sri Lankans who attempted to flee to Australia through illegal means, but the latter would first have to face the law of the country.

The Minister was addressing the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Government Information Department auditorium.

When pointed out that the asylum seekers who migrated to the western countries during the civil strife had obtained either citizenship or temporary residency by citing false reports that they were harassed and ill treated, the Minister said that if anyone had violated the law of the country in obtaining citizenship or residency they would be severely dealt with according to the law of the country once they return.

Responding to a question on whether there were reports that those asylum seekers had complained to agencies such as UNHCR that their human rights were violated, he said that if they were sent back from those countries, that itself would prove that those countries nor such UN agencies had not accepted the claims made by the asylum seekers.

Asked why the government decided to effect power cuts when there was no necessity as the national grid had sufficient power supply, the Minister said it was a precautionary measure and assured that there won’t be any interruption to power supply from Monday.

Answering a query on whether obsolete equipment had been installed at Norochcholai, as claimed by engineers, the Minister said that question should have been raised five years ago.

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