Arrest of two asylum seekers in Sri Lanka: results of review process now available
Bern-Wabern, 26.5.2014 - In the summer of 2013, two Sri Lankan nationals whose asylum applications had been rejected in Switzerland were arrested upon their return to Sri Lanka. The Federal Office for Migration (FOM) immediately responded at the time and ordered a suspension of all removal orders relating to Sri Lankan nationals. At the same time, it launched an internal and external review process to determine how the asylum applications from these two Sri Lankan nationals had been handled. Assessors identified shortcomings at various stages in the handling of both asylum applications. The combination of these factors resulted in an incorrect assessment of the personal risk to which the asylum seekers were exposed. The FOM regrets the outcome in both cases. The reports drafted upon completion of this review process suggest various corrective measures that the FOM has already begun implementing or has already implemented. The FOM has also adapted its practices for the granting of asylum and the issuance of removal orders for Sri Lankan nationals to reflect the current situation. The safeguards are now in place for suspension of removal orders to be lifted. All asylum seekers for whom a removal order had been issued will now have their asylum applications re-examined on the basis of updated criteria enabling determination of their current level of risk.