| Sri Lankans being deported from Australia are from mojority Sinhalese says Senaka Walagampaya |
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Talking to Daily Mirror Sri Lanka, The Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Australia Seneka Walagampaya, a Sinhalese, says the group of Sri Lankans being deported from Australia are all Sinhalese nationals and so cannot be classified as a minority that is being harassed and given refugee status. The High Commissioner told Daily Mirror online the nine Sri Lankans facing deportation had arrived on the Western Coast of Australia last November and were from the coastal areas in Sri Lanka. “They are all fisher folk from the areas of Chilaw, Negombo, Marawila and Kochchikade,” he said.
On their entry to Australian waters the group was taken into custody by the Australian Coast guard and thereafter taken to Christmas Island to be processed. “After processing it was confirmed they were Sri Lankan Sinhalese,” Walagampaya said. At this time 3 persons had voluntarily opted to return to Sri Lanka and were provided with travel documents from the High Commission. However this group of nine persons had appealed firstly to the Refugee tribunal and thereafter to the Australian Minister of Immigration Chris Evans. Both appeals were rejected. “Then we provided them with travel documents and they will not return to Sri Lanka,” the High Commissioner said. There was one person, Mr.Sarath Tennekoon, who requested asylum claiming his life was under threat. “He was a pilot in the Air-Force therefore he is afraid for his life. But I don’t know what the Australian authorities will do about him,” Walagampaya said. Although there are a number of Sri Lankans on Christmas Island being processed and asking for refugee status, it is still unclear how many will be deported back home. “I don’t know how many more will be sent back. As of now we haven’t been informed” the High Commissioner said. |
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