Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran requested visiting Swiss Justice Minister Simonetta Sommaruga not to repatriate the Tamil asylum seekers since there is no possibility of granting amnesty in Sri Lanka, adding that they might be arrested. Swiss Minister Sommaruga had mentioned in her statement prior to the visit to Sri Lanka that she would focus on the repatriation of the Tamil Asylum seekers who had been in Switzerland. The Northern CM stressed that the prevailing situation is not the appropriate time to send them back as there are possibilities of arrest on their arrival. The CM noted that though the Prevention of Terrorism Act would be abolished there is a possibility of drafting a law equal to the PTA. He added that he wished the Sri Lankans should come back to their home land, but appropriate environment should be established before their repatriation.
