Former MP M. A. Sumanthiran has questioned the Criminal Investigations Department’s move to detain an individual, certified as a “refugee” by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), upon his return at the Palaly Airport in Jaffna.
In a post on ‘X’, Sumanthiran said that the 75-year-old refugee had returned from a camp in India after obtaining all necessary clearance from all relevant agencies and was assisted by the UNHRC to return.
He further said that, however, the individual was arrested by the Immigration officials at the Palaly airport yesterday, despite having all the clearance and relevant documents.
Sumanthiran said that he had then been produced by the CID at the Mallakam Magistrate’s Court this morning, and remanded until 05 June, after objecting to bail.
“Is this a move by the government to frighten 10,000 others who have registered to return?” he questioned, highlighting the plight of the individual, whose case Sumanthiran is representing as a lawyer. (Newswire)
I am making this information public after obtaining the permission from my client:
A 75 yr old returning refugee from a camp in India after obtaining all necessary clearance from all relevant agencies and certified as a “refugee” by UNHCR and assisted by them to return, was… 1/2— M A Sumanthiran (@MASumanthiran) May 30, 2025
