CTC Welcome the release of 75 year old Sri Lankan Tamil Refugee

For Immediate Release

CTC welcomes the release of 75 year old Sri Lankan Tamil refugee
Urges for greater action from Sri Lankan government to encourage and support the returning refugees

June 4, 2025 – The Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) welcomes the release of the 75 year old Sri Lankan Tamil refugee who was detained at Palaly Airport. While we acknowledge the release, the initial detention raises serious concerns about the lack of consistent policies for refugee return and reintegration.

CTC reiterates that actions such as arresting returnees send the wrong message to the thousands of Tamil refugees still living in camps and communities across Tamil Nadu, many of whom are considering returning to their homeland. To encourage safe and voluntary return, it is essential that the Government of Sri Lanka establish clear, transparent, and humane procedures for individuals who fled during the conflict.

CTC strongly urges the Government of Sri Lanka to use this moment to initiate a comprehensive, rights-based framework for refugee return. Policies must be designed to ensure that individuals returning with proper clearance from recognized bodies like the UNHCR are not subjected to arrest, confusion, or intimidation.

Addressing conflict era documentation gaps must be a priority. Refugees who fled during the war often did so under life threatening conditions, without the ability to secure proper passports or exit permits. Penalizing them for these realities is unjust. Clear, time-bound amnesty provisions should be established to ensure returnees are not criminalized for circumstances beyond their control.

Equally important is equipping immigration and security officials with clear, uniform procedures for handling returning refugees. Consistent, rights-based training can prevent arbitrary detentions and ensure that returnees are treated with dignity upon arrival. Effective resettlement also depends on meaningful coordination between the Government of Sri Lanka, international agencies, and diaspora organizations with direct links to displaced communities. Without a collaborative framework, the process will remain fragmented, discouraging those who are ready to return and rebuild their lives.

Above all, the state must actively communicate that returnees will be welcomed and protected not treated with suspicion. Public, reliable assurances are essential to rebuilding trust in the process. Every misstep sends a message, and the wrong message.

While there has been encouraging words, that alone are not enough. The absence of concrete, protective policies continue to create uncertainty and mistrust among displaced communities. Symbolic gestures cannot substitute for real, enforceable systems that guarantee safe and dignified return. The Canadian Tamil Congress stands ready to work with credible and committed stakeholders to support the needs of the returning refugees.

For more information & inquiries, please contact: 647-300-1973 / info@canadiantamilcongress.ca