UNHCR Facilitated Voluntary Repatriation Information Guide to Support Safe Return of Sri Lankan Refugees May 2015 IF YOU ARE A SRI LANKAN REFUGEE WHO WANTS TO RETURN HOME UNHCR CAN HELP YOU! Every year, UNHCR helps hundreds of Sri Lankan refugees and asylum-seekers to voluntarily return back home. This UNHCR information and preparation guide is intended to provide the necessary basic information that would allow you to make an informed decision. If you are thinking about returning to Sri Lanka and you want to obtain UNHCR assistance, we can provide you with: counselling and advice; assistance needed to meet the international travel, exit and entry requirements; obtain necessary documentation; provide you with reintegration grant and post- return assistance. For more information, contact us: UNHCR in India: Chief of Mission Office Chennai Field Office B-2/16, Vasant Vihar, No. 11, 17th Cross Street, 110057 New Delhi Besant Nagar Tel: + 91 11 2469 4256 600090 Chennai Fax: + 91 11 4353 0460 Tel: + 91 44 2446 1734 E-Mail: [email protected] Fax: + 91 44 2446 1733 E-Mail: [email protected] UNHCR in Malaysia: Representation Office 570 Jalan Bukit Petaling 50460 Kuala Lumpur Tel: +60 3 2118 4800 Fax: +60 3 2141 1780 E-Mail: [email protected] UNHCR in Sri Lanka: Representation Office Kilinochchi Field Office 97, Rosmead Place, 152, Vanniyasigam Lane, Colombo 7 A9 Road, Annthapuram , Tel: +94 (0)11 268 3968 Killinochchi Fax: +94 (0)11 268 3971 Tel: +94 (0)21 228 5402-03, E-Mail: [email protected] Fax: +94 (0)21 2285510-11 Web: www.unhcr.lk E-Mail: [email protected] Jaffna Field Unit Vavuniya Field Unit 223, Temple Road, Nallur, 10, 10th Cross Street, ( Attached to IOM) Jaffna Vairavapuliyamkulam, Vavuniya Tel: +94 (0)21 222 2005 Tel: +94 (0)24 222 5972 Fax: +94 (0)21 222 4534 Fax: +94 (0)24 222 0579 E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] UNHCR Information Guide for Sri Lankan Refugee Returnees ii UNHCR Information Guide for Sri Lankan Refugee Returnees iii Contents I. Important things to do before and after you arrive in Sri Lanka ............................. 1 1.1 Make the decision: Do you want to come back home? ................................................... 1 1.2 What can UNHCR do for you? .......................................................................................... 1 1.3 Pre-departure information ............................................................................................... 2 1.4 On arrival in Sri Lanka ....................................................................................................... 2 1.5 After reaching home ........................................................................................................ 3 II. Overview of the current environment in Sri Lanka ................................................ 4 2.1 Important Documents ...................................................................................................... 4 2.2 Housing, Land and Property ............................................................................................. 4 2.3 Employment and income ................................................................................................. 4 2.4 Education .......................................................................................................................... 5 2.5 Healthcare ........................................................................................................................ 6 2.6 Get involved in your Community ..................................................................................... 6 III. General Condition of Northern and Eastern Province ........................................... 7 Annex I: Contact Details of the District Secretariats in Sri Lanka ............................. 12 Annex II: Land related forms ..................................................................................... 13 Annex III: Contact Details of the Legal Aid Commission of Sri Lanka ....................... 15 UNHCR Information Guide for Sri Lankan Refugee Returnees iv I. Important things to do before and after you arrive in Sri Lanka There are number of important things to do before and after you arrive in Sri Lanka. Every refugee returnee will encounter different situations, thus the information provided is only an indication of what you may need to do at different stages. 1.1 Make the decision: Do you want to come back home? If you are considering returning home, it is important to remember the decision to return is yours. During the time that you’ve been away, the situation in Sri Lanka has also changed. Try to find out as much information as possible by: i. Contacting your family members and friends where you intend return in Sri Lanka by telephone, letter or email and ask what the current conditions are in your intended place of return. ii. Speaking to UNHCR officials in the country where you are taking refuge or asylum. UNHCR staff will be able to discuss your options and help you understand what type of assistance you may be able to receive. 1.2 What can UNHCR do for you? If you decide to obtain the assistance of UNHCR in facilitating your return to Sri Lanka: i. UNHCR Sri Lanka staff will meet and greet you at the airport in Colombo to make sure you have arrived safely. ii. UNHCR staff will assist you to complete immigration, security and customs formalities at the airport. iii. UNHCR will open a bank account for you and deposit the UNHCR reintegration grant. Each adult individual will receive LKR 10,000 and each minor will receive LKR 7,500. A passbook will be handed over to you. iv. UNHCR will provide you with a cash transport grant of LKR 2,500 to help you get back to your home in a safe and dignified manner. v. UNHCR will provide you with a grant of LKR 5,000 per individual family and LKR 10,000 per family to procure non- food items. vi. When you reach your town or village contact the closest UNHCR office to register for protection monitoring. UNHCR Information Guide for Sri Lankan Refugee Returnees 1 1.3 Pre-departure information Once you’ve decided to return to Sri Lanka through UNHCR facilitation, make sure to do the following before you depart the country of asylum: i. You should register the birth of any children who were born outside Sri Lanka with the Sri Lankan Consular Office in your country of asylum. Try to obtain Consular Birth Certificates and Citizenship Certificates for the children who born outside of Sri Lanka through the nearest Sri Lanka Embassy/Consulate. ii. Collect all your family and individual identity documents and guard them carefully. Make sure you take them with you to Sri Lanka in the bag provided by UNHCR. These documents include: Passports, Birth Certificates, Birth Registrations, Sri Lankan National Identity Cards, Land documents, leaving certificate from the school/s (if any), educational Diplomas and Certificates from primary & secondary schools, vocational and university courses and medical documents. iii. UNHCR staff in the country of asylum will help you to fill out a Voluntary Repatriation Form (VRF). You must keep this form safely in the UNHCR bag provided until you arrive in Sri Lanka. Hand over the form only to a UNHCR staff member when you arrive. iv. Fill in the Bank of Ceylon account application form and keep it safely in the UNHCR bag. v. UNHCR staff will also give you any other information that you may need to return safely. 1.4 On arrival in Sri Lanka The day of arrival can be strenuous with emotions and anxiety. UNHCR staff will accompany you through the arrival formalities and assist you throughout your clearance process before taking you to the UNHCR office at the Airport. Speak to the UNHCR staff members wearing blue UNHCR vests or t-shirts before you reach the immigration counter. At The UNHCR Office inside the Airport, staff will assist you: i. To open a bank account with the Bank of Ceylon (BOC) and deposit your reintegration grant in your new account. This will enable you to withdraw money from BOC branches island wide; ii. To receive your transportation grant in cash to help you get from the airport to your place of origin; iii. Counselling and information regarding your return. UNHCR Information Guide for Sri Lankan Refugee Returnees 2 iv. The Voluntary Repatriation Form will be checked by UNHCR staff. v. Keep the signed Voluntary Repatriation Form safely with you at all times. 1.5 After reaching home i. Register with the Grama Niladhari office of the Sri Lankan Government in your village. Take with you a copy of the VRF and your emergency travel documents. ii. Be in contact with the UNHCR Staff in your District of return. You can do this by: . Taking your Voluntary Repatriation Form with you. Provide your contact details to UNHCR. Inform UNHCR of any special needs or concerns you or your family members may have. Attend the Mine Risk Education session. Talk to your local public health office about health screening. Inform UNHCR staff and the local authorities if you change your address. Contact the UNHCR Office nearest to you: District Address and Contact number Office Hours Jaffna UNHCR, 223, Temple Road, Nallur, Jaffna Every Thursday Telephone:+94 (0)21 222 2005 10.00 am to 3.00 pm Kilinochchi 152, Vanniyasingham Lane, A9 Road, Every Monday Anathapuram, Kilinochchi 9.00 am to 4.00 pm Telephone: +94 (0)21 228 5402 Mullaitivu Mullaitivu Kachcheri, Mullaitivu Every second and fourth Telephone: +94(0) 21 228 5402 Wednesday of the month 10.00 am to 12.00 pm Vavuniya District Social Service Department, 6th Lane, Second Tuesday