COI Report March 2012 - UK Border Agency - Home Office

7 MARCH 2012 SRI LANKA
recorded as ‗conflict with the law‘ and other figures included 9 cases where the child was
separated from their parents, 9 children were neglected and 9 were forced into early marriages.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) told us that all of the Jaffna camps for
internally displaced persons (IDPs) had been closed. Many of the occupants were from
Mullaitivu district or High Security Zones (HSZ) and had therefore been placed with host
families. They added that there were still HSZs at Palaly and in coastal areas. Local fishermen
complained that Indian trawlers were fishing in Sri Lankan waters just off these HSZs. The GA
had earlier commented that bottom trawling by the Indian fishermen was backed by the
government and was out of her control.
IOM also informed us that they were dealing with 492 ex LTTE cadres, or ‗surrenderees‘ as they
had to be referred as, currently receiving counselling and referral services. We asked if they had
any issues since their release from detention. We were told that they had to report to military
camps once a month, which was particularly stressful for females entering into an all male
military environment. They also had to report and register if they left the district at any time,
which was an issue for men looking for employment. There were differing reactions from local
communities regarding their return. In Jaffna, because it was not involved in the latter stages of
the war, some were actually considered as heroes. In Mullaitivu or Kilinochchi districts however
they were often unable to settle due to animosity towards them. This was mainly from family
members who had been forced to hand over husbands, siblings and children to fight alongside
them.
IOM provided the following statistics regarding demining: As at 26 June 2011 over 38 million
square metres have been cleared in Jaffna district out of a total area of almost 61 million square
metres (63.3%). Military and NGOs have cleared 96,879 anti-personnel mines, 199 anti-tank
mines and 99,699 unexploded ordinances.
IOM also informed us that since 2009, their office in Jaffna had received a total of 217 voluntary
returnees from 17 different countries. Of these 65 returnees were from the UK.
The Assistant Government Agent (AGA) in Maruthankarny told us that the division was the most
vulnerable area of Sri Lanka, having suffered from the 2004 tsunami, the civil war and
seasonable weather changes. There were still 18 Grama Niladhari areas where resettling still
had to take place. There were 14,578 persons in the division, with 30% of families having a
woman head of household. Of these people, 90% of them relied on fishing for their livelihoods
and 10% on agriculture.
The AGA told us that there were no security concerns currently, and that their biggest worry
was the Indian trawlers fishing in Sri Lankan waters, cutting through the nets of local fishermen.
This has been flagged up to central government but nothing had been done about it. It was
ironic that locals were banned from using trawlers and had no access to deep sea fishing yet
the Indian fishermen were fishing in their waters.
The Division had 3,200 fishermen using 579 boats. There were currently 15 fishery societies
and a fishing/coordination group had been set up to deal with challenges they faced. The DS
Division of Maruthankarny had 65 km of coastline and we were told that their most urgent
requirements were; fish preserving facilities, ice making plants, jetties for mooring boats, auction
facilities and training for women in particular to enable them to dry fish. UNDP are assisting in
the development of the coastline along with the government through their economic
development programme. They have identified the immediate needs as housing and livelihoods.
The main text of this COI Report contains the most up to date publicly available information as at 3 February 2012.
Further brief information on recent events and reports has been provided in the Latest News section
to 2 March 2012.
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