During the course of Sri Lanka’s conflict, hundreds of thousands of people fled the country in search of international protection. According to UNHCR’s most recent statistics as of mid-2010, there are 146,000 registered Sri Lankan refugees in 64 countries, with a majority – some 69,000 in 112 refugee camps and another 32,000 living outside camps in Tamil Nadu, India.

The other main countries with Sri Lankan refugees are France, Canada, Germany, UK, Switzerland, Malaysia, Australia, the United States and Italy.

Since the end of the Sri Lanka conflict, an increasing number of Sri Lankan refugees are returning home, both spontaneously and with the help of UNHCR. The agency has also received many requests Sri Lankan refugees, mainly in India and Malaysia, for help to return.

As of April 2011, some 3,312 Sri Lankan refugees had returned to the country with the help of UNHCR.
Information to Sri Lankan refugees who wish to return home…

In your country of refuge….
Sri Lankan Refugees who wish to return home can approach the closest UNHCR office in their country of asylum. Once the request is processed, they are provided an air ticket to Sri Lanka and assisted to obtain relevant documentation.

Once they arrive in Sri Lanka….

1. Sri Lankan refugee returnees are met by UNHCR staff at arrival

Currently, refugee returns take place by air and the point of return is the Bandaranaike International Airport, located around 40km from Colombo.
In future, there maybe possible alternatives sea route(s) by commercial ferry.

2. Sri Lankan refugee returnees are then escorted to UNHCR facility inside airport 

The Sri Lankan Government has allocated UNHCR a section of the Bandaranaike International Airport’s Arrivals Terminal. Here UNHCR verifies the safe arrival of refugee returnees.

• Each refugee arrival is checked against standard movement sheet (manifest) provided by UNHCR Chennai or other UNHCR office in country of asylum
• UNHCR validates safe arrival on Voluntary Repatriation Form (VRF) and “activates” it for payment purposes

3. Refugees returnees provided with new bank account containing UNHCR reintegration grant

Refugee returnees provided with the new bank accounts by the state-owned Bank of Ceylon (BOC) containing the UNHCR reintegration grant.

• In the UNHCR airport facility, the (BoC) officers open a bank account for each returnee household.
• UNHCR provides funding for immediate deposit of UNHCR reintegration grant:
  • SL Rs. 10,000 per adult (approx. Indian Rs. 4,120)
  • SL Rs. 7,500 per minor i.e. under 18 years.  (approx. Indian Rs. 3,100)
  • No family maximum
• No cash is provided at this stage, and bank accounts are under name of both spouses, so that either have full access.
• Unaccompanied/Separated Minors receive the reintegration bank in cash; alternatively bank account can be opened on the name of the relative.

4. Bank staff then provide cash grant for onward transportation to village of origin

Each individual is provided with Rs. 2,000 ( same rate, adult or child) in cash which can be used immediately to arrange transportation from the BIA to their village of origin.

5. Refugee returnees leave the airport terminal and arrange transport to home areas

Refugee returnees can then self-arrange their onward transport to home areas, using the UNHCR cash grant for transport.
At airport arrival area the following modes of transportation are available.

• - public buses to Colombo city, including to main train station and long distance bus exchanges
• - private minibuses and taxi services, including direct to North and East

Many refugee returnees are alternatively met by family members at airport arrival area.

6. Refugee returnees are provided Non-Food Items (NFIs)

After arriving in their home district, refugee returnees can approach the closest UNHCR office in area of return for their pack of NFIs.
Each NFI pack contains basic household items such as mosquito nets, jerry cans, a kitchen sets, towels, plastic mats etc. Refugee returnees are also provided by a hygiene pack, a tarpaulin kit (plastic sheeting, nylon ropes) and a return took kits, which contains essential items such as a crowbar, an axe, a hurricane lamp etc.
UNHCR also provides clothing such as sarees, undergarmets, children clothes etc. on a needs basis only.  Also the exact contents of the NFI pack may change.
Refugee returnees must bring VRF to UNHCR office for receipt to be stamped.  UNHCR staff will also interview the refugee returnees using standard monitoring questions.

7. Legal and reintegration counselling

rnUNHCR also…

• - Refers persons with legal issues to appropriate NGO (including UNHCR partner) or Government institution
• - Seeks to ensure that returnees receive Mine Risk Education at UNHCR FOs and return villages
• - Refers persons with special needs (persons with disabilities, elderly persons etc) to specialized - Government institutions
• - Seeks to ensure returnees are included in food rations lists
• - Directly as well as with partners, carries out post-return monitoring in the villages
• - If/when needed, raises concerns with local government officials

Information Note for Sri Lankan Refugee in India (English) (Tamil)

Click here for more information on other UN agencies and Government authorities that help Sri Lankan refugees returning home