Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala says information has been received that over 100,000 illegal immigrants are likely to arrive in Sri Lanka in the coming days.
Minister Wijepala informed Parliament today that the information has been received based on investigations conducted by the Sri Lanka Police and Army Intelligence Unit related to the group of Rohingya refugees that arrived in Sri Lanka recently.
Minister Wijepala said that the government will identify the issue of illegal immigrants as a social issue in Sri Lanka.
He further said that 116 Rohingya Refugees had recently arrived by boat to Sri Lanka and that a Police investigation was underway into the incident.
“The group has paid around 50 million in their currency for this journey. They have also paid 80 million to the human traffickers. A Police probe is underway into the refugees,” he said.
The Public Security Minister noted that if the illegal immigrants are identified as refugees, then action will be initiated based on that, adding that the government was ready to work according to International laws.
“We have provided the group of refugees with all necessary facilities, including food and water, through the Department of Immigration and Emigration,” he said briefing the Parliament on the current state of the Rohingya refugees.
Minister Ananda Wijepala made the remarks in response to a question raised by Opposition MP Rauff Hakeem related to the Rohingya refugees from Myanmar who were rescued off the Mullaitivu coast on 19 December 2024. (Newswire)