UNHCR suspends repatriation of refugees to Sri Lanka 

UNHCR, the refugee agency of the United Nations, has temporarily suspended the process of facilitating the repatriation of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees apprehending arrest upon their arrival in Sri Lanka. 

The repatriation of seven refugees from Tiruchi to Colombo on August 14, 2025, was called off in the last minute amid reports of at least four refugees being detained on charges of violating immigration laws on arrival in Sri Lanka. 

According to official sources, Freeman Richard Velvavandram (54), whose return was facilitated by the UNHCR was arrested on arrival at the Colombo international airport on August 12, 2025. He was produced before a Judicial Magistrate and let on bail. However, a review of the voluntary repatriation documentation revealed no prior security concerns associated with his return, the sources said. 

Similarly on May 28, 2025, another Tamil refugee who left the country decades ago during the civil war was arrested after he landed in Jaffna. 

A Sri Lankan Tamil couple that flew to the Jaffna international airport without UNHCR facilitation in the first week of August was also arrested. The couple had reportedly been residing in India since 1996 in the Mandapam refugee camp in Tamil Nadu. Upon arrival, they were detained by the immigration authorities and handed over to the police for further investigation, the sources said.

This is the first time that Sri Lankan authorities are arresting voluntarily returning refugees on charges of leaving the country without a valid passport or travel documents. Since 2002, the UNHCR has repatriated 18,643 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees to their home country. 

“The fundamental principle is to ensure the safety and dignity of the voluntarily returning refugees. Arrests are not made unless there is a criminal case pending. Violation of immigration laws are condoned since the refugees fled the country fearing threat to their lives in the ethnic conflict,” a senior official involved in the repatriation process told The Hindu on Monday (August 18, 2025). 

Taking diplomatic route

Confirming that voluntary repatriation of Tamil refugees had been temporarily suspended since the organisation wanted to avoid the risk of their getting arrested, the official who did not want to be quoted said the issue of returnees being arrested upon arrival in Sri Lanka was being taken up through diplomatic channels. 

“The process of repatriation would be put on hold till such time there is an assurance from the Sri Lankan authorities that the refugees would not be arrested for violating immigration rules and will be treated with dignity,” the official said. 

The arrests began only May this year. Otherwise, it was a smooth exit for refugees who went back home, the official said and added that the matter was taken up with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and Sri Lanka.