Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by Sri Lanka.
For Sri Lanka country of information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries and relevant documents, please click here.
As UNHCR statistics generally rely on data from host countries, statistics on refugees alone can give an insufficient account of refugee numbers, as some host countries will not grant refugee status to certain groups. Including statistics for individuals in refugee-like situations is an attempt to account for unrecognised refugees and does not include internally displaced persons. Statistics for stateless refugees are included if available.
Asylum Pro Consultancy
http://asylumproconsultancy.com/
Tel: +1 (253) 228-8130
Contact person: Frederica Jansz
Email: fjansz@gmail.com
Frederica Jansz has lived for over four decades in Sri Lanka and has worked actively as a journalist and editor of a leading national newspaper. She has extensive experience in regularly commenting on a society that was caught in war, then one that was in between war and peace. She has spoken at numerous international forums, and currently is actively involved in functioning as an Expert Witness for Sri Lankan asylum seekers. Her company, ‘Asylum Pro Consultancy’ works actively with UK based law firms and provides an Expert Witness service as well as document verification.
Asylum Pro Consultancy (APC) provides a case-specific country of origin information (COI) research service to support individual asylum claims. This information is used in representations to the UK Border Agency (UKBA), the UK Immigration and Asylum Chambers and to international refugee decision-making bodies. This service is primarily fee-paying, but APC may be able to undertake pro bono COI research for NGOs with limited funds who provide free services to refugees. APC has been repeatedly commissioned by UK-based solicitors/law firms to review individual cases involving Sri Lankan asylum seekers in the UK whose appeals center around claims of Domestic Violence, political and/or religious persecution, sexual abuse involving women and children, and medical issues.
Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Sri Lanka
http://en.jrs.net/Regions_Projects_Details?Region=SAS&PC=LKA01&RID=19&TN=CODE-20110330064230
Sangarappillai Lane, Rambaikulam, Vavuniya, Sri Lanka
Tel: +94 24 49 22 945
Mob: +94 77 75 55 374
Fax: +94 24 22 25 873
Contact Person: Joel Kulanayagam, Director JRS Sri Lanka
Email: joelsj29@yahoo.com
The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) seeks to accompany, assist and advocate for refugees, IDPs, returnees, detainees and stateless people. In Sri Lanka, JRS is working for 800,000 war-affected people. JRS offers to these people education, vocational and skill training, income generation programmes, and assistance for farming, fishing etc.
Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) Sri Lanka
www.nrc.no/?aid=9167148
19/5 Horton Place, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka
Tel: +94 11 26 79 210
Fax: +94 11 26 79 211
Contact Person: Eigil Kvernmo, Country Director
NRC provides humanitarian assistance to refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees. Their programme activities are concentrated on five core activities, one being Information, Counseling and Legal Assistance. NRC provides legal assistance, usually through individual casework, but it may also may entail class action. NRC pursues legal action through all relevant local, national and international legal systems and mechanisms, including customary law, conflict resolution and mediation mechanisms and any other prevalent systems of law – in addition to statutory law and the courts. NRC may provide training in legal issues to target groups and key local actors – to establish a platform of understanding of rights and applicable law, and subsequent legal approaches to key issues. This country office assists refugees and IDPs.
Organisation for the Rehabilitation of Eelam Refugees (Ceylon)
www.oferr.org/content.php?id=178
Second floor, 2B, Jayawardena place, Off Hill Street, Dehiwala, Colombo
Tel: +94 11 55 16 520 or 27 37 334
Fax: +94 11 27 34 129
Email: oferrceylon@sltnet.lk
OfERR is an organisation of Ceylon Tamil refugees, by refugees and for refugees, committed to the principles of human development and sustainable livelihoods. OfERR’s mission is to improve and develop the lives and well-being of refugee returnees from India and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the North and East of Sri Lanka. OfERR’s programs include education and skills training for adults and children; health and nutrition services; counseling and social awareness; and the promotion of human rights – non-violent and democratic values that will empower them in the process of return and nation building. They also provide emergency relief/humanitarian assistance through providing basic food and non-food items for IDPs and returnees; shelter, water and sanitation facilities; address the immediate safety and security needs of the people; provide psychosocial activities and treatment; promote public health awareness in IDP camps; assist children and young people in continuing their education; and work through government structures, aiming to avoid bureaucratic delays in delivering relief.
In its advocacy work, OfERR are working with the Sri Lankan government on key issues such as documentation, recognition of educational qualifications (especially for returnees), recognition of citizenship (for both returnees and IDPs), and land allocation for landless people; lobbying for the extension of medical services to neglected areas; co-ordinating with NGOs in Mannar, Vavuniya, Batticaloa and Trincomalee, especially on the issues of rights and peace building; and advocating a permanent political solution. Whilst the head office of OfERR (Ceylon) is in Colombo, the organisation has four regional offices, based in Mannar, Vavuniya, Trincomalee and Batticaloa.
South Asian Network for Refugees, IDPs & Migrants (SANRIM)
SANRIM works with refugees, asylum seekers and voluntary and forced migrants in South Asia and Asia. Our current work includes the provision of legal aid for Pakistani refugees. SANRIM is also part of the Sri Lankan Refugee Support Group, which engages in advocacy work and protecting refugee rights in Sri Lanka. We are also involved in legal support work for those who are in detention. A member of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN).
Survivors Associated
www.survivorsassociated.org
No.22, Melford Crescent, Dehiwala, Sri Lanka
Tel: +94 27 38 313 or 27 35 408
Fax: +94 4 20 05 59
Email: suraso@eureka.lk
Survivors Associated Guarantee Ltd., is an organisation engaged in the holistic care of marginalised conflict affected people in Sri Lanka such as torture survivors, disabled IDPs, female heads of households and their familes. We are active at grass roots level in Vavuniya, Mannar, Vanni, Valachchenai, Kalmunai, Pottuvil and Tangalle.We do not actively engage in the legal aspects but provide training for our staff and medical and Paramedical personnel on the laws pertaining to torture in this country and the proper document procedures to be adopted. Programmes implemented are training and services in Psychosocial and Disability Rehabilitation, Economic Empowerment, Conflict Resolution and laws pertaining to torture in Sri Lanka.