People in North, East leaving country due to dire economic situation: Ali Sabry

People in the North and East tend to leave the country due to the dire economic situation where some have gone to Tamil Nadu, Vietnam and Ukraine in the last six months.

He told Parliament that some 302 Tamils have fled to Vietnam and seven to Ukraine.

He said 85 of those in Vietnam have agreed to come back and said the Ministry would facilitate their return.

Responding to a remark made by Parliamentarian Selvam Adaikkalanathan, the minister said a publicity mechanism was needed to educate the people in the North and East on the dangers of seeking refugee status and not to get caught to human trafficking.

"We want to inform them, if they go on refugee status or on a wrong passport and get caught to trafficking, they will have to suffer," he said. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)