Sri Lanka has continued to block access by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee agency to more than 100 Rohingya asylum-seekers, including women and children, who have been held under military custody for over a year, raising serious concerns among human rights bodies and humanitarian officials.
The group, rescued at sea and brought ashore in November 2024, remains detained at an air force base in Mullaitivu in the country’s northeastern region, according to Sri Lankan news outlet The Leader. Despite repeated formal requests, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has not been permitted to assess their protection needs, asylum claims, or living conditions.
“UNHCR continues to formally request access to the group to assess their needs, vulnerabilities and claims for international protection, which has to date not been permitted,” said Mariko Hall, spokesperson for UNHCR’s Asia-Pacific regional office. She added that the agency remains “deeply concerned about the well-being of this group, especially women, children and older people.”
The Rohingya asylum-seekers were fleeing violence in Myanmar when they became stranded at sea and were later assisted by local fishermen before being taken into military custody. Although a court order reportedly directed their transfer to a civilian detention facility near the capital, rights groups say the group was instead moved to the Mullaitivu air force base following what has been described as high-level intervention.
Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Commission has urged the government to immediately allow UNHCR access, warning that the prolonged detention of conflict-displaced civilians without a clear release timeline constitutes a serious humanitarian concern.
“These people are victims of conflict, yet they are being treated as criminals,” said Gehan Gunatilleke, a commissioner of the Human Rights Commission. He noted that UNHCR has the mandate and expertise to process asylum claims, adding that continued delays are unjustifiable.
According to the commission, the group includes at least 57 children, as well as several infants and newborns, including cases involving underage mothers. Rights officials have warned that the continued military detention of minors could place Sri Lanka in violation of its obligations under international child protection and civil rights conventions.
UNHCR has stated that it is ready to cooperate with Sri Lankan authorities to provide humanitarian assistance and conduct protection assessments once access is granted. However, the agency has cautioned that continued denial of access risks isolating the asylum-seekers from international protection mechanisms.
The case has intensified scrutiny of Sri Lanka’s handling of irregular maritime arrivals, as displacement pressures continue to grow across South and Southeast Asia amid ongoing instability in Myanmar.
