On the morning of December 19, 2024, a boat carrying over 100 Rohingya refugees arrived at Mullivaikkal beach in Mullaitivu, marking the latest chapter in the ongoing plight of Myanmar’s Rohingya community. This boat, which had set sail from Myanmar several days earlier, carried 115 people in total, including 103 refugees and 12 individuals who were believed to be facilitating their journey.
Upon arrival at the beach, the Sri Lanka Navy immediately took the boat and its occupants to Ashraf Jetty in Trincomalee Harbor. The refugees were disembarked and transferred to Trincomalee on December 20, 2024. The Sri Lankan government, alongside local and international NGOs, quickly mobilized to provide the refugees with food, shelter, and medical care. They were initially hosted at Jamaliya School in Trincomalee, where they were given temporary accommodation.
On December 20, the refugees were brought before the Trincomalee Magistrate’s Court, where they stated that they had come to Sri Lanka seeking asylum from ongoing violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. The court heard that the group had originally set out on three separate boats, but only one boat made it to Sri Lanka’s shores. The others had tragically capsized or become lost at sea. Six people, including four children, had perished during the perilous journey due to starvation and exposure. The refugees explained that the bodies of the deceased were thrown into the sea during the journey to prevent further distress.
While the remaining 103 refugees were slated to be transferred to the Mirihana Detention Centre, the 12 individuals believed to be involved in bringing them to Sri Lanka were placed in custody. Attempts to transfer the refugees to the Mirihana Detention Centre were delayed due to insufficient preparation by immigration authorities.
The refugees’ harrowing stories underline the extreme conditions they faced while fleeing Myanmar. They described being forced to abandon their homes in Rakhine State, where they had been subjected to violent attacks and persecution by both military forces and armed groups. The desperate journey across the sea, which took weeks, left many suffering from malnutrition and dehydration. During their voyage, the refugees were forced to endure intense physical and psychological hardships, and the tragic deaths of fellow passengers highlight the dangerous lengths they were willing to go in their search for safety.
The refugees’ arrival has sparked an outpouring of support from Sri Lankan citizens, government officials, and NGOs, who have all come together to provide emergency relief. Local authorities in Mullaitivu and Trincomalee coordinated efforts to supply food, clean water, and shelter to the refugees while ensuring their medical needs were addressed. Despite these efforts, however, concerns remain over the prolonged detention of the refugees at sea, the fluctuating arrangements for their accommodation, and the uncertainty surrounding their legal status.
The incident has drawn the attention of international human rights organizations and civil society groups, many of whom have issued statements calling for humanitarian protection for the refugees. On December 23, 2024, a collective of 47 civil society organizations wrote to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, urging the government to extend its protection to the refugees and avoid any actions that would violate their rights under international law. The group emphasized the urgency of providing the Rohingya with asylum and support as they face persecution in their home country.
The Rohingya people have long faced discrimination and violence in Myanmar, where they are denied citizenship and subjected to systemic violence. The Myanmar government has been widely criticized for its role in the 2017 crackdown on the Rohingya, which led to widespread atrocities, including mass killings, sexual violence, and the destruction of villages. Many of the refugees arriving in Sri Lanka are survivors of these atrocities, seeking safety and a chance to rebuild their lives.
The Sri Lankan government has not yet made a definitive statement on how it plans to proceed with the refugees’ asylum applications. However, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has called for a careful review of the situation. In the meantime, the refugees remain in a state of uncertainty, with their future in Sri Lanka hanging in the balance.
While the Sri Lankan government has made efforts to provide immediate relief, there is growing concern that the country’s refugee and asylum system is ill-equipped to handle the influx of refugees. Sri Lanka has historically been reluctant to accept large numbers of refugees, particularly from countries with which it shares little historical or cultural connection. The ongoing situation with the Rohingya underscores the need for a more robust and compassionate response to the refugee crisis, as well as a comprehensive policy on asylum and refugee protection.
The journey of the Rohingya refugees to Sri Lanka is a tragic reminder of the continuing crisis in Myanmar and the urgent need for international action to address the persecution of the Rohingya people. As the refugees wait for their fate to be decided, their story highlights the broader struggle for human rights and dignity in the face of violence and oppression.
