UNHCR asks Lanka to stop deporting Pakistani asylum seekers

The UN refugee agency has asked Sri Lanka to stop deporting Pakistani asylum seekers, after it learnt that Colombo continued to deport them violating the international law.
In a statement, the UNHCR said it came to know that 36 Pakistani asylum-seekers have been deported from Lanka since Friday.
More could follow, including women and children, it said in the statement for the second time in less than a week.
The UN refugee agency asked Lankan authorities to stop the deportations and grant them access to refugees and asylum- seekers still detained in Colombo.
The deportations took place between August 1 and 5 following two months of arrests and detentions of people of concern to UNHCR, the statement said.

"We understand that most of the deportees have arrived in Pakistan and been released. However, we are unable to monitor their return conditions, and appeal to the Sri Lankan authorities to respect the principle of non-refoulement by not sending people back to a place where their lives could be in danger," said the UN refugee agency.

Some 205 Pakistani, Afghan and Iranian refugees and asylum-seekers remain in detention in Lanka. UNHCR continues to seek access to them to assess their protection needs.
Last week, Lanka said there are about 1500 Pakistani, and Afghan nationals who were staying in the country illegally draining the island's resources.

Sri Lanka has defended its action to deport Pakistani Ahmadiyya, Christian and Shia Muslim asylum seekers saying state responsibility on its international obligations are nuanced and balanced by domestic compulsions.
Colombo has faulted the UNHCR for its failure to implement swift action to ensure asylum seekers are provided with adequate facilities and monetary assistance to live in Sri Lanka until their claims are processed or resettlement is found.