The UN refugee agency is closely coordinating with the Colombo mission to resume the voluntary repatriation of Sri Lankan refugees, Areti Sieni, the head of UNHCR in India, told NDTV in an exclusive interview. The repatriation process had been suspended earlier.
Calling the recent arrests a “worrying matter,” Sieni said the agency hopes the repatriation process will resume soon. She noted that 200 Sri Lankan refugees returned to their homeland last year, and around 50 more have expressed interest in returning this year.
Sieni added that UNHCR will continue to work with Indian authorities to ensure durable solutions for refugees—through citizenship, repatriation, or resettlement.
India currently hosts over 80,000 Sri Lankan refugees, many of whom have been living in Tamil Nadu for decades. Since 2002, a total of 18,643 refugees have returned to Sri Lanka through voluntary repatriation programmes.
However, the absence of a dedicated refugee law remains a major challenge for three generations of refugees living in India, including many born on Indian soil. Without citizenship, they continue to live in special camps monitored by state police.
Although the younger generation pursues higher education, many are forced into low-paying or menial jobs due to employers’ reluctance to hire non-citizens. Additionally, aspiring students are denied access to medical education in government institutions.
Many young people born and raised in India now consider it their only home and express little desire to return to Sri Lanka.
While the Immigration and Foreigners Acts do not penalize Sri Lankan refugees for entering or staying in India, the Citizenship Act still classifies them as illegal immigrants. The fast-track citizenship provisions under the Citizenship Amendment Act—available to non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh—do not extend to Sri Lankan refugees.
Against this legal backdrop, the Tamil Nadu government has taken the lead in improving socio-economic conditions for Sri Lankan refugees. Initiatives range from livelihood and skill development programmes for women’s self-help groups, to financial assistance for women, and partnerships with industry to help nurture the educated refugee talent pool, including those in the IT sector.
Sieni acknowledged that granting citizenship is ultimately a matter for the Indian government but noted that Tamil Nadu, in collaboration with legal experts and civil society organizations, is working to help eligible refugees obtain Indian citizenship. She added that UNHCR has provided technical assistance and policy advice to both state and central governments to expand pathways for inclusion.
“Citizenship is a concrete demonstration of belonging to a country—a solution that is available to very few refugees globally,” Sieni said. “When it is available, asylum ends. It allows people to fully participate in the society and economy in which they live.”
Amid growing calls for granting citizenship to Sri Lankan refugees, Sieni described the initiatives of Tamil Nadu and the central government as “an important example for the world,” noting that significant investments have been made to help refugees become self-sufficient and productive members of society.
