FM seeks assistance to obtain travel documents for boat people

by Anushka Nanayakkara

[email protected]

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sought the assistance of Bangladesh and Myanmar authorities to obtain travel documents of those, who were rescued by the Sri Lankan Navy when their boat drifted into the Lankan waters last week, said a spokesman of the Ministry.

The Ministry has informed the Bangladeshi High Commission and the Embassy of Myanmar that the travel documents for 21 Bangladeshi refugees are being processed and 50 Myanmar refugees' travel documents are due next week, he said.

The External Relations Assistant of UNHCR Sulakshani Perera told the Sunday Observer that last Friday UNHCR met the Director General of South Asia and East Asia Divisions and also the refugees. She also said that a statement was made last Wednesday in this regard and process of the documents would take a few days. She said that the Sri Lanka Government has given immense support for this matter.

The Spokesman for Navy, Commander, D. K. P. Dassanayake told the Sunday Observer that three people from Bangladesh and 17 from Myanmar had died due to starvation and dehydration at the time of the rescue.