Foreign Ministry says they are economic migrants

• The group had been detained in Diego Garcia for over 20 months
• Talks are underway with the British authorities on this matter, but migrants should take a decision to return voluntarily

By sunil jayasiri

While claiming that Sri Lankan authorities were in constant touch with the relevant UK officials about some 60 Sri Lankan people who are being held in Diego Garcia, a British territory in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka yesterday said that those Sri Lankan asylum seekers could return anytime voluntarily if they wish to.  “Sri Lankan authorities have been in constant touch with the British authorities, as we are getting updates about the issue via the UK High Commission in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan High Commission in the UK,” a spokesperson of the Sri Lanka foreign Ministry told Daily Mirror.  

The spokesperson also said that if those people are ready to return voluntarily, SL authorities in consultation with the UK authorities will facilitate the safe return back to Sri Lanka.   “Talks are underway with the British authorities on this matter, but migrants should take a decision to return voluntarily,” the spokesperson told Daily Mirror.  

Commenting about the migrants’ allegation that they were fleeing from Sri Lanka fearing they would be prosecuted in Sri Lanka, the foreign ministry official said that there were no such prosecutions taken place. “These are economic migrants,” the spokesman added.