Page 44 - KDU Law Journal Volume 4 Issue 2

KDU Law Journal Volume 04 Issue II
September, 2024
Introduction
Sri Lankan refugees are something usual, refugees in Sri Lanka
that’s not something that general public has an idea about. Focusing
on the Sri Lankan context, there are considerable numbers of
refugees, who seek the refugee status in Sri Lanka. Being at the
1
sharp end of varying conflicts and internal instability, Sri Lanka
has been hit by waves of displacement fueled by both internal
and external factors. However, the country has come along a long
way in bringing laws in place and developing policies to deal with
refugee issues. But despite those, questions remain about whether
the current legal framework for refugees working in the country
suffices or the level of protection given to refugees within its
territory.

This article aims to explore the linking between the international
refugee laws and the local legal status quo in Sri Lanka pertains to
refugees. It aims at exposing the subtle ins and outs of both fields by
showing how they are interdependent and how this interrelationship
has implications for refugee care. The purpose of the article is to
provide comparative approach to the explanation of the issue of Sri
Lanka’s legal system conforming to international requirements and
its deviating areas that could be a hindrance during the process of
refugee protection.
Prominent issues to be included are the overview of international
refugee laws, synthesizing the rights and privileges expounded in
the laws, down to a thorough analysis of the Sri Lankan refugee
protection legal framework, with regard to local legislation,
guidelines, and practices. The article also addresses the difficulties
such as access to basic services, social inclusion, and civic rights
experienced by refugees in Sri Lanka, culminating in policy
recommendations and legal reforms as possible means to improve
the state of refugee protection in the country.
1 https://groundviews.org/2024/06/20/sri-lanka-falls-short-in-its-responsibilities-towards-
th
refugees-and-asylum-seekers/ <accessed on 25 May 2024>
law.faculty@kdu.ac.lk
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