The British based NGO Freedom from Torture has revealed that Sri Lanka was the top country of origin for those referred to the organisation for clinical services.
In a statement on its website, the group said that its annual review showed that out of 1,301 people, 228 were from Sri Lanka, with the vast majority being Tamil. The individuals were referred to the group by concerned GPs or solicitors dealing with their asylum applications.
“These alarming statistics mean that for the first time in years, Sri Lanka has replaced Iran at the top of the shameful table that tallies the country of origin for the thousands referred to us each year for clinical services here in the UK,” the statement said.
The Chief Executive of Freedom from Torture, Keith Best, said that the UN Human Rights Council should be ready to take tougher action.
“Large numbers of Sri Lankan torture victims, most of them Tamil, are still coming to Freedom from Torture for rehabilitation and other clinical services and our doctors attest that many were tortured long after the government declared victory in the civil war. In 2012 alone, 228 Sri Lankans were referred to us, more than any other nationality. Sri Lanka was also the top country of origin for torture survivors whose injuries were documented by our world-renowned medico-legal report service. The UN Human Rights Council must stand ready to take tougher action when it meets to discuss the situation next March,” he said.