The number of people claiming asylum in the UK fell by 12% in the year to March 2026, according to new Home Office data, though levels remain more than double those recorded just before the pandemic.

According to a report by the BBC, a total of 93,525 asylum applications were lodged over the 12‑month period, down from the previous year. 

The figures also show the number of asylum seekers housed in hotels dropped sharply to 20,885, compared with 30,657 in December 2025 and a peak of 56,000 in September 2023 under the former Conservative government.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that net migration has continued to fall, with 171,000 added to the UK population last year, the lowest level since 2012, excluding the Covid pandemic. 

Just over 800,000 people immigrated to the UK in 2025, down 20% on the year before, while 642,000 emigrated long‑term.

Officials said the decline was driven by fewer arrivals from outside the EU, particularly for work. 

Policy changes introduced in early 2024, restricting overseas students and care workers from bringing dependents, and raising salary thresholds for skilled visas, have been retained and expanded by Labour.

The government has since announced further measures, including requiring migrants to speak English to A‑level standard and raising the skilled worker visa income threshold to £41,700.

Despite claims of a “Starmer exodus,” the ONS noted that British emigration has remained broadly stable, with 257,000 nationals leaving in 2024 and 255,000 in 2023. 

The Liberal Democrats blamed Brexit for the trend, urging closer cooperation with European allies. (Newswire/ BBC)

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Labour MP Claire Hughes has raised alarm over a Facebook account allegedly operated from Sri Lanka that is producing AI‑generated videos aimed at stoking fear and division in Britain.

According to Hughes, the page, called Heart of UK, is not based in the United Kingdom but has been reaching hundreds of thousands of viewers online. 

The account reportedly uses artificial intelligence to fabricate videos depicting British people on the streets, with the intent of influencing public opinion and driving support for Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.

“This is not a laugh. People are falling for it,” Hughes said, warning that the page is run by bots out of Sri Lanka designed to divide the country and interfere in elections.

She urged the public to exercise caution, stressing: “You can’t always believe everything you see on the internet.” (Newswire)

This what we’re up against:

AI videos being made in Sri Lanka, shared here in Britain to stoke fear and division.

The next time someone tells you something MUST be true because they’ve seen it on Facebook…send them this video. pic.twitter.com/vxxagoyQXN

— Claire Hughes (@clairehughesBA) May 13, 2026

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Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara has been appointed as the President of the Sri Lanka-UK Parliamentary Friendship Association.

According to a Parliament statement, MP (Dr.) Pathmanathan Sathiyalingam was appointed as the Secretary to the Association. 

The revival meeting to elect the office bearers for the Sri Lanka-United Kingdom Parliamentary Friendship Association of the 10th Parliament was held at the Parliament premises yesterday under the patronage of Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne. 

The British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Andrew Patrick participated as the chief guest, while Deputy Chairperson of Committees Hemali Weerasekara, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, and Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament, Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera,and Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatna also participated in the meeting.

Addressing the occasion, Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne stated that over the past seven decades, Sri Lanka-UK ties have grown stronger and the revival of this Friendship Association is a testament to the strong bond between the two nations. 

The Speaker pointed out that it provides a platform to deepen cooperation, especially in areas like trade, investment, and tourism, while strengthening the ties between our Parliaments and peoples. The UK’s support during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis and contributions to debt restructuring as a Paris Club member was commended by the Speaker. He also extended his gratitude to the Westminster Foundation for Democracy for its invaluable contributions to empowering Members of Parliament and staff through workshops, conferences, and study tours.

Speaking at the event, the High Commissioner of the UK in Sri Lanka, Andrew Patrick highlighted that nearly 50,000 Sri Lankan students are currently studying in the UK and expressed hopes of further strengthening educational links. He emphasized that the UK aims to continue fostering long-standing bilateral ties between the two countries. The High Commissioner also noted that, according to global economic growth projections over the next 30 years, this region will become increasingly influential, and he believes that Sri Lanka is well-positioned for a bright future.

Member of Parliament Harshana Nanayakkara, who was appointed President of the Sri Lanka-UK Parliamentary Friendship Association, expressed his gratitude for the appointment. He emphasized that reviving the Association marks a significant step toward enhancing the strong and enduring relationship between the two nations. “Let us work together to make this association a powerful platform for exploring and realizing new avenues of collaboration between Sri Lanka and the UK,” he stated.

In his address, Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa, emphasized the importance of the revived Parliamentary Friendship Association in strengthening bilateral relations, fostering legislative collaboration, and deepening ties between the two countries. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom’s (UK) Department of Health and Social Care have held discussions on the commencement of the 2nd phase of the UK aid programme to Sri Lanka.

The discussion was held during a meeting between British Acting High Commissioner Lisa Whanstall and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees in Colombo yesterday (Aug.23).

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, a delegation from the Fleming Fund of the UK Department of Health and Social Care participated in the discussion.

British Acting High Commissioner Lisa Whanstal said the health care grants programme, which was halted for the last couple of years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will resume in January 2024. 

Under this grant, assistance will be provided to support the generation, sharing and use of antimicrobial resistance data to reduce drug resistance. It will support public health surveillance to help improve patient health, inform national health policies and warn emerging threats.

The grant programme will be implemented with the assistance of the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization and other agencies. Under this programme training fellowships will be provided to health sector staff.

The Prime minister thanked the United Kingdom for selecting Sri Lanka as a recipient of this healthcare programme, which will be immensely useful to advance the health system in the country. He pointed out that Sri Lanka’s health service is based on the British system and there will not be any difficulty in implementing such health care programmes.

Meanwhile, the British Council’s Country Director Orlando Edwards presented a set of publications on English language training methods of the Council to the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Gunawardena urged the Acting High Commission and the British Council to introduce English Language education to youths in rural areas.

Dr Jessica Wallis and Dr Neha Gulati of the UK Fleming Fund, Andrew Price of the British High Commission and Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, Deepa Liyanage also took part in the discussion. (NewsWire)

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New office bearers have been appointed to the Sri Lanka – United Kingdom Parliamentary Friendship Association.

MP Chandima Weerakkody was appointed as the President of the Association, while State Minister Diana Gamage, MPs S.M.M. Muszhaaraff and Ashok Abeysinghe were appointed as the Vice Presidents. 

MP M. A. Sumanthiran was appointed as Secretary, MP Harshana Rajakaruna as Assistant Secretary, and MP Sagara Kariyawasam as Treasurer.

The meeting to elect office bearers for the Sri Lanka – United Kingdom Parliamentary Friendship Association of the Ninth Parliament was held at the Parliament last week (08) under the chairmanship of the Speaker, MP Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana.

According to a statement from the Parliament, the Acting High Commissioner of the United Kingdom in Sri Lanka Lisa Whanstall was present at the meeting as the Chief Guest. 

The Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse, Ministers and Members of Parliament and the Secretary General of the Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera were also present.

Speaking at this occasion, the Speaker expressed his gratitude for all the support given to Sri Lanka through the bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom for seven decades. Furthermore, he also expressed gratitude for providing opportunities for Members of Parliament and Parliamentary staff through seminars, workshops and study tours through the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD).

Addressing those present, the Acting High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Sri Lanka, Lisa Whanstall said that the United Kingdom is happy to support Sri Lanka through multilateral organizations such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the United Nations to overcome the economic crisis.

Whanstall added that she is ready to work with other lenders and the Government of Sri Lanka to restore debt sustainability.

Addressing the meeting, the newly elected President of the Sri Lanka-United Kingdom Parliamentary Friendship Association MP Chandima Weerakkody expressed his gratitude for appointing him as president. He also stated that through this he hopes to further strengthen and develop the relations between the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka. (NewsWire)

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