In a press briefing, the UNHCR claims that a total of 36 Pakistani asylum seekers have been deported from Sri Lanka since last Friday, adding that more could follow, including women and children.

UNHCR Spokesperson Ariane Rummery said that they urge the authorities to stop the deportations and grant them access to refugees and asylum seekers still detained in Colombo.

The deportations reportedly took place between August 1 and 5 following two months of arrests and detentions of people of concern to UNHCR.

The refugee agency added that most of the deportees arrived in Pakistan and had been released, but noted that they were unable to monitor their return conditions.

They have therefore appealed to the Sri Lankan authorities to respect the principle of non-refoulement by not sending people back to a place where their lives could be in danger without the opportunity to assess their needs for international protection.

UNHCR meanwhile states that 205 Pakistani, Afghan and Iranian refugees and asylum seekers remain in detention in Sri Lanka.