European Court orders Switzerland to compensate deported ex- LTTE member to Sri Lanka

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ordered Switzerland to pay EUR 30,000 to a Sri Lankan Tamil national who was deported from Switzerland and subsequently arrested and allegedly beaten in Colombo.

In a judgement issued on Thursday, the court held that Swiss authorities failed to adequately consider risk of ill-treatment before deporting the Sri Lankan Tamil national.

The victim had applied for asylum in Switzerland on the grounds of political persecution, as he was a former member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and had previously been subjected to ill-treatment while imprisoned in his home country, according to the court proceedings.

The victim complained that the Swiss authorities had failed to properly assess these submissions and had deported him to Sri Lanka, where he had been subjected to further ill-treatment at the hands of the Sri Lankan authorities, reports the Colombo Page.

His request for asylum was rejected and, following an unsuccessful appeal, the man, his wife and children were deported in 2013.

Upon arrival at the airport in Colombo, they were detained and questioned. The man was later incarcerated in Boosa Prison, where he suffered ill-treatment.

The Court held that Switzerland was to pay the applicant EUR 30,000 in respect of non-pecuniary damage and EUR 4,770 in respect of costs and expenses.