What about “human rights” of the hundreds outside Embassy doors awaiting visa

Shenali Waduge

A common scene no sooner anyone passes Kolpetty Junction & heads towards Galle Face is the queues of people from all walks of life lined up for matters related to visa. While the US and UK embassies have taken some steps at least to address the years of injustice meted out to the many thousands who had to line up to face an interview or obtain visa clearance, the Indian High Commission’s response has been a short tent hardly sufficient to cover anyone’s head from the sun or rain.

Anyone passing by would feel the suffering that the people go through standing in the hot sun with nothing to cover their heads except for their passports and the supporting documentation that they have brought with them. Young, old, even the religious deity are all made to go through this ordeal.

Should this not be an issue for the “human rights” activist amongst us to pursue. Why should human rights be subject to politics and terrorists alone? Surely any embassy should have the common sense to devise ways to make visa aspirants a little comfortable. Is the embassy not a reflection of the country that they represent? Years go by and no one seems to take any initiative to address this.

What is most baffling is that despite the Indo-Lanka Trade Agreement in place why is it that only Indian Nationals have been awarded Visa on Arrival while Sri Lankan travelers have to line themselves up in the scorching sun awaiting the gates of the Indian High Commission to open.

What about Human Rights for these people???