UK court orders transfer of Sri Lankan refugee from Diego Garcia to Maldives
The UK High Court has ruled that a Sri Lankan national stranded on Diego Garcia be transferred to the Maldives for 30 days on humanitarian grounds. Following a decline in security conditions at the site, the Maldivian government agreed to the temporary transfer to provide essential medical care and mitigate life-threatening risks, though a permanent solution for the individual's status remains undecided once this period expires.
Diego Garcia. | The Sunday Guardian | The Sunday Gurdian
The UK High Court has ordered that a Sri Lankan asylum seeker stranded at the British military base on Diego Garcia be transferred to the Maldives for a period of 30 days.
Identified in court proceedings by the pseudonym "KP," the individual was among a group rescued by the British Royal Navy and taken to Diego Garcia in October 2021 after their vessel encountered distress while attempting to reach Canada by sea. While approximately 60 others who traveled with him have since been relocated to third countries, he remains on the island due to a criminal record involving allegations of sexual assault and arson.
The court ruled to transfer KP to the Maldives following a deterioration in security at Diego Garcia due to rising tensions with Iran, which prompted the evacuation of civilian staff from the base. As leaving him there alone was deemed unsafe, his legal team petitioned the court to have him relocated to the United Kingdom.
The British government argued in court that he has no legal right to enter the United Kingdom. However, officials stated that following discussions with more than 20 countries, the Maldives has agreed in principle to accept him for a temporary period of 30 days.
Under this agreement, he will be brought to the Maldives to receive the necessary medical treatment. Furthermore, assurances have been provided that he will not be deported back to Sri Lanka.
Justice Kimblin of the English High Court stated that this decision was made under exceptional circumstances. He noted that extraditing the individual to the Maldives serves as a temporary and practical solution to safeguard his life from immediate danger.
However, it remains unclear how KP will be handled once the 30-day period expires. The court further noted that if a permanent solution is not reached, it could lead to renewed legal complications.
