Swiss court upholds Tamil repatriation decision

The Federal Administrative Court in Switzerland, has ruled that rejected asylum seekers from Sri Lanka could be sent back to their country.

The Swiss Federal Office for Migration had ruled that Tamil refugees could return to Sri Lanka while a previous Senate vote confirmed that view.

Opponents had appealed to court, alleging that Tamils could face arrest, intimidation or in some instances torture if they return to Sri Lanka. The court said that the general security situation in Sri Lanka had improved as well as stabilized since the civil war between the army and the Tamil Tigers had ended, allowing the refugees to return, World Radio Switzerland reported.