Refugees who fled to India during conflict return to Sri Lanka: Justice Minister

Over 11,000 Sri Lankan refugees who had fled to India during the 26-year armed conflict have returned to the island, said Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.
At an event on Monday, October 31 to felicitate the newly returned refugees, Minister Wijeeyadasa said that 4,063 of the 11,712 returnees are from the Jaffna district.
“The returned refugees will have the government’s fullest attention and we want to attend to the problems faced by all 11,712 persons,” said the minister, introducing a mobile service launched to assist returning refugees.

Also, Minister said that “Those who have returned from India after facing many problems will not be second to any citizen from any part of the country. There won’t be any discrimination. All will have equal rights, entitlements, protection and dignity. We’re dedicated to safeguarding your rights,” said Rajapakshe.

“It is our duty to make their future secure and successful,” he added.
This new trend has emerged in the face of tough new resolutions passed by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) regarding human rights in Sri Lanka.