By Authorities of the Réunion Island of France have repatriated 14 Sri Lankan nationals to Sri Lanka by air on December 22, 2023. The group of Sri Lankans was apprehended as they were attempting to migrate to Réunion Island illegally by sea. The group was repatriated by UU 0050 aircraft.
Human traffickers via sea.
Réunion Island is an island in the Indian Ocean that is an overseas department and region of France. It is located approximately 679 km east of the island of Madagascar and 175 km southwest of the island of Mauritius.
Regarding asylum seekers, Réunion Island has been a haven for Sri Lankan asylum seekers who have braved rough sea voyages and shark-infested waters across the Indian Ocean to seek asylum there While it has traditionally attracted asylum seekers from neighboring African islands, there has been a recent upsurge of Sri Lankan migrants that has taken officials by surprise. Between 2016 and 2018, authorities received 105 asylum applications, with Sri Lankans accounting for a huge percentage of the requests
Over 290 Sri Lankans have boarded vessels, including fishing boats and makeshift rafts, as they try to access Réunion since 2018. Most of them have come multi-day fishing trawlers
The immigrants who were repatriated have been identified as residents of the Beruwala, Chilaw, and Kalawanchikudi areas from 21 to 60 years of age. The Department of Immigration and Emigration and the Sri Lanka Police are conducting further legal proceedings regarding these illegal immigrants.
Regarding asylum seekers, Réunion Island has been a haven for Sri Lankan asylum seekers who have braved rough sea voyages and shark-infested waters across the Indian Ocean to seek asylum there While it has traditionally attracted asylum seekers from neighboring African islands, there has been a recent upsurge of Sri Lankan migrants that has taken officials by surprise. Between 2016 and 2018, authorities received 105 asylum applications, with Sri Lankans accounting for a huge percentage of the requests.
