Delegation sent to Vietnam to hold talks with Lankan migrants

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), has taken steps to deploy a number of Sri Lankan officials to communicate with the 303 Sri Lankan illegal migrants in Vietnam to discuss if they wish to be repatriated, and to inform that if they are unwilling to return, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) may have to assess their case and that until such time, the migrants would have to remain in Vietnam. 

Speaking to The Morning, Minister of Foreign Affairs President’s Counsel (PC) M.U.M. Ali Sabry said yesterday (15) that during yesterday’s discussion with IOM Chief of Mission Sarat Dash, the above was decided as a way forward in resolving the issues of the Lankan migrants in Vietnam. 

“We discussed how we could provide support and facilities and have deployed some Sri Lankan officers who are on their way there to communicate with them in Sinhalese and Tamil because they are not English speakers,” he added. 

Sabry noted that once the Sri Lankan officers communicate with the migrants, they would discuss the possibility of the migrants returning back to the country and that if they are not willing, the UNHCR would assess their case, in accordance with the terms of international treaties. 

“Once the discussion takes place and if they (the migrants) are willing, we will facilitate their return to Sri Lanka. If they are not willing, in accordance with the terms of international treaties, the UNHCR must assess their case, and until such time, they will be required to remain in Vietnam. We were considering various options regarding what we should provide them,” he added. 

Meanwhile, the IOM noted on Monday (14) that they are providing humanitarian assistance to 303 Sri Lankan migrants rescued off the coast of Vietnam on 8 November. Responding to a request received from the Sri Lankan Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam, the IOM, in co-ordination with the Governments of Vietnam and Sri Lanka, the IOM missions in Vietnam and Sri Lanka, and the relevant UN agencies, are providing necessary assistance and protection in line with the relevant local and international standards and laws. 

The IOM appreciated the Government of Vietnam’s willingness to offer a place of safety and to assist the 303 vulnerable Sri Lankan migrants rescued at sea while the IOM, the Government of Sri Lanka, and other counterparts conduct vulnerability screenings and necessary assessments to ascertain the variables of the situation. Once the assessments are completed, in addition to providing the basic necessities, including food and medical aid, the IOM and their partners will facilitate the potential voluntary return of the migrants, should they wish to do so. The IOM said that it stands ready to support the Governments of Sri Lanka and Vietnam in their efforts towards making migration safe and dignified, supporting migrants and communities in vulnerable situations, and addressing the adverse drivers of migration and displacement.

The Sri Lankan migrants in Vietnam, it is learnt, had refused to return to the country, thereby urging the United Nations (UN) to take responsibility for their issue, and have claimed that if they had to return back to Sri Lanka, they would commit suicide. 

The Foreign Affairs Ministry earlier noted that they had informed the Sri Lanka Navy that they had received information about a vessel carrying approximately 303 persons believed to be Sri Lankans which was in distress in the waters between the Philippines and Vietnam on 7 November. The Navy, having contacted the vessel, relayed that the crew had abandoned the vessel with the passengers onboard. On the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in co-ordination with the Navy and the Sri Lankan Missions in the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam together with the regional Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) based in Singapore, rescue efforts took place. Subsequently, the Japanese-flagged vessel “Helios Leader”, having been contacted by the Singapore MRCC, rescued the passengers from the distressed vessel. The passengers were handed over to Vietnamese authorities at the Vung Tau Port in South Vietnam. The screening of the passengers is being done by the IOM in co-ordination with the Vietnamese authorities and the Sri Lankan Embassy in Vietnam. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to work closely with the Sri Lankan Missions in the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam and the IOM for early repatriation, once the screening process to ascertain their nationality and other formalities are completed.