Sri Lanka Removes Legal Hurdles for Civil War Refugees Returning from Tamil Nadu
· World · Indian Express
Sri Lanka has removed a longstanding legal obstacle to the voluntary return of refugees who fled the civil war without valid passports or through unauthorised departure points. Under a new Cabinet decision, returnees whose Sri Lankan nationality is established can enter through an authorised port after clearance by the State Intelligence Service. Those cleared will not face prosecution under immigration law merely for leaving the country without authorisation during the war. The policy applies to all individuals who left before May 19, 2009, when the civil war ended. Many refugees, such as those living in Tamil Nadu camps for decades, now face a complex process of homecoming after years of displacement.
Why it matters
This policy change directly affects thousands of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in Tamil Nadu camps for decades, offering them a legal pathway to return to their home country without facing immigration prosecution.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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