SL spends Rs.1.5Mn for Rohingya refugees’ meals thus far

• Immigration, ICRC, Air Force and MOH offices dedicated for the well-being of the refugees

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

The Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka (DIE) has so far spent over Rs.1.5 million for the meals alone of the Rohingya refugees that are being detained presently under the care of Sri Lanka Air Force detachment in Mullaitivu, the Daily Mirror learns.   

Following the arrest of 102 Rohingya refugees floating on a trawler off the seas of Wellamulli Waikkal with a boat crew of 12 persons on December 17th, the refugees had been transferred to the SLAF detachment in Mullaitivu on December 23rd.   

Officials from the DIE inspected the seized group and carried out preliminary inquiries and arranged the relevant needs including their food and lodging as well as medical requirements.  

The three meals for the group including the crew is being provided by the SLAF detachment in Mullaitivu which is up to the standards of the meals prepared for the SLAF members but the cost for the provisions has to be borne by the DIE.   

A senior DIE official told the Daily Mirror for the meals of the refugees detained at the SLAF detachment, the DIE is paying Rs.500 per person per day and thus far they have spent Rs.1.5 million alone for the food and beverages.  

The official said the ICRC based in Sri Lanka is providing toiletries and sanitary ware like toothbrush, soap, etc. whilst the medicinal requirements are taken care of by the MOH office in Mullaitivu.   

The DIE usually bears the expenses of any illegal immigrant remaining in Sri Lanka and every now and then an approximate figure of 90 illegal immigrants including Nigerians and Pakistanis remain in the Welisara Detention Centre of the DIE.   

Therefore, the DIE with the sums allocated by the Treasury has to spend an extra cost for the Rohingya refugees detained in the North, apart from their usual daily expenses for the foreign immigrants who have already been detained.