Sri Lanka: Information on the refugee camps near Colombo, including whether all registered and unregistered residents of the camps are entitled to full rations; whether the government of Sri Lanka and/or political groups conscript camp residents; and on whether there are armed gangs in the camps

A Cornell University Ph.D. student who is researching the human rights situation in Sri Lanka provided the following information on the above subjects during a telephone interview on 8 April 1993. Even though 20 to 30 per cent of refugees in the camps near Colombo are not registered, only registered refugees are entitled to rations. However, because of political or personal reasons, it is possible that some registered persons do not receive their rations. On 1 September 1992 the government of Sri Lanka reduced the rations of registered refugees by 50 per cent, but it restored full rations on 5 October 1992.

 Although the government of Sri Lanka officially runs the camps, the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) practically controls them. There have been several reports of alleged EPDP kidnappings and murder of camp residents. While the existence of armed groups in the camps is unlikely because of the EPDP presence, it is possible that some camp residents might be members or supporters of political or military groups. The source was unaware of whether or not the government or political parties conscript in the camps.

 A representative of the Sri Lanka Project at the British Refugee Council in London provided additional information on the above subjects during a telephone interview on 13 April 1993. The government of Sri Lanka provides rations only for registered Tamil refugees in the camps near Colombo. For political as well as for financial reasons, the government has refused to register Tamils who entered the camps after November 1990. In certain camps about 60 per cent of the inhabitants are unregistered. To help these refugees, the registered refugees have shared their rations with them. In addition, some NGOs have provided food for the unregistered refugees. There is no indication that the government of Sri Lanka is about to change its policy toward unregistered refugees.

 The source was unable to comment on whether there are armed gangs in the camps, nor could the source comment on the conscription of camp residents by the government or anti-government groups. The source states that the camps are controlled by the EPDP which might try to conscript refugees clandestinely, however, it is unlikely that the EPDP would try to publicly pressure refugees to join its ranks.

 A Sri Lanka Monitor article provides information on the government's decision to halve the food rations of Tamil refugees in a number of camps in the Colombo area, and its subsequent restoration of full rations (Oct. 1992, 2). The article states that

there is little confidence among relief workers that the government is willing or able to feed everyone in the face of a growing financial crisis (Ibid.).

The article adds that the government stopped registering new refugees entering the camps in November 1990 (Ibid.).

 Additional and/or corroborating information on the above subject is currently unavailable to the DIRB.

References

Bush, Kennet. Ph.D. student conducting research on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. 8 April 1993. Telephone Interview.

The Sri Lanka Monitor [London]. October 1992. "Ends and Means."

Sri Lanka Project at the British Refugee Council, London. 13 April 1993. Telephone Interview with Representative.

Attachment

The Sri Lanka Monitor [London]. October 1992. "Ends and Means," p. 2.