The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition
Sajith Premadasa urged the Government to handle the arrival of 116 Rohingya refugees at Mullivaikkal on 19 December 2024 in accordance with international humanitarian norms, despite Sri Lanka not being party to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol. He cited relevant international instruments and the Rohingya’s vulnerability in Myanmar, including exclusion from the 2014 census, and stated that returning them to Myanmar was not an acceptable solution. He called for protection of their rights and expressed support for constructive government action consistent with international standards.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, in addressing the plight of Rohingya refugees, we emphasize adherence to international norms and standards. Though Sri Lanka is not party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol, we have a humanitarian responsibility to act in line with international law when refugees arrive.
¶ 02 We can draw on instruments such as the 1969 OAU Convention, the 1984 Cartagena Declaration, EU law on refugees, the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, and the UN’s Global Compact on Refugees. The Rohingya centered in Rakhine have even been excluded from the 2014 Myanmar census and face acute vulnerability. As a humane state, we must formulate our actions accordingly.
¶ 03 A group of 116 arrived by sea via Mullivaikkal on 19 December 2024. In fulfilling our obligations, we should follow international law and accepted procedures. I trust the Government will protect Rohingya rights and discharge our duties fairly. Returning them to Myanmar is not a solution. Let us act with compassion and justice and support the Government’s constructive steps consistent with international standards.
¶ 04 Thank you.
Provenance
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- Hansard, Thursday, 23 January 2025 ·No. 1738314169039521 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 23 January 2025. No. 1738314169039521. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/10614