A recent report by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) has described various human rights violations in the treatment of Rohingya asylum seekers detained at the Mullaitivu Air Force Camp.
The report, titled Status of Rohingya Asylum Seekers Detained in Mullaitivu, and Related Issues, highlighted a need for humanitarian intervention, transparency in detention practices, and accountability for the Sri Lankan authorities’ handling of asylum seekers.
On 19 December 2024, a trawler carrying 116 Rohingya refugees, including 57 children, drifted towards the Mullivaikkal coast in Mullaitivu. Local fishermen provided food and water before the Sri Lankan Navy intervened, removing the vessel and transferring the refugees to Trincomalee. The survivors—many of whom had already endured harrowing conditions at sea, with some losing their lives en route—were subsequently brought before the Trincomalee Magistrate and forcibly detained at the Mullaitivu Air Force Camp.
The HRCSL visited the Air Force Camp on 9 January 2025 to assess the living conditions and treatment of the detainees. However, their findings painted a grim picture of Sri Lanka’s disregard for refugee rights and international humanitarian standards.
The report documented multiple violations, including:
- Detention of vulnerable individuals in military custody: Among those detained were 57 children, including a three-month-old baby, and a nine-months pregnant woman.
- The report states that no external aid or services were permitted to reach the asylum seekers.
- HRCSL officials were denied entry to the camp by Air Force officers despite multiple attempts.
- While three female police officers were stationed at the camp, they were not present at night. Furthermore, there were no female Air Force officers at the facility.
In a HRSCL press release, they “expressed deep concern that human rights defenders (HRDs) advocating for the rights of Rohingya asylum seekers have forwarded complaints to the HRCSL with respect to harassment by law enforcement officials on account of their legitimate activities.”
Read the full HRCSL report here.
Sri Lanka has long faced scrutiny over its mistreatment of refugees and asylum seekers, with authorities repeatedly accused of violating international conventions on refugee protection. The detention of Rohingya refugees in a military facility with no humanitarian access and no oversight from rights organisations underscores the state’s systemic failures in handling vulnerable populations.
