Dokument #1165594
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor)
According to a professor of political
science specializing in Sri Lankan affairs at the University of New
Brunswick in Fredericton, prior to a Sri Lankan government ban on
the sale of children for the purpose of adoption, some poor Sri
Lankan families had sold their babies to Scandinavians (29 Nov.
1994). Although uncertain about the exact date, the professor
states that the government ban took effect in the mid 1980s. As a
result, those who wish to adopt children are now required to follow
a legal procedure. The professor states that some poor young boys,
mainly in Colombo, act as male prostitutes for western European
homosexuals, but their parents are not involved in these activities
(ibid.).
The professor states that there are no
government assistance programmes specific to children. However,
there is a welfare programme for poor individuals and other social
assistance programmes such as free education and medical care,
which are also available to refugee children and orphans. The
source adds that there are government-subsidized Catholic and
Buddhist orphanages.
Country Reports 1993 states that the
Sri Lankan government is "formally committed to protecting the
welfare and rights of children, but its ability to do so in
practice has been limited by its lack of resources" (1994,
1394).
Responses to Information Requests
LKA18178.E of 1 September 1994 and LKA13150 of 12 February 1993
provide information on the facilities available to Sri Lankan
children, including orphans and refugees.
The attached articles provide information
on a variety of issues, including child trafficking in Sri Lanka
and government efforts to stop it, and government programmes for
orphans and street and abused children, during the period 1991 to
1994.
This response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum.
Country Reports on Human Rights
Practices for 1993. 1994. United States Department of State.
Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.
Professor of political science
specializing in Sri Lankan affairs, University of New Brunswick,
Fredericton. Telephone interview.
Reuters. 27 July 1993. BC Cycle. "Child
Abuse Ad Draws Flood of Sri Lankan Complaints." (NEXIS)
The Xinhua General Overseas News
Service. 19 April 1994. "Tough Laws to Prevent Child Trafficking in
Sri Lanka." (NEXIS)
. 5 August 1993. "Sri Lanka Plans to
Protect Children." (NEXIS)
. 25 July 1992. "800,000 Sri Lankan
Children in 'Especially Difficult Circumstances'." (NEXIS)
. 2 July 1993. "Sri Lanka Launches
Street Children Rehabilitation Project." (NEXIS)
. 24 April 1992. "Precautions to Prevent
Child Adoption in Sri Lanka." (NEXIS)
. 5 June 1991. "Sri Lanka Children Given
for Adoption Inadequate." (NEXIS)
. 8 May 1991. "Illegal Baby Trade
Organization Busted in Sri Lanka." (NEXIS)
. 10 April 1991. "New Laws Approved in
Sri Lanka to halt Baby Trade." (NEXIS)