An Assessment of Immigration and Emigration Act in Sri Lanka on Irregular Migration

Abstract

Irregular migration can recognize in each and every part of the world in every period of the world history. It carried positive and negative results all host, home and corridor countries. Considering the current scenario authors identi ed irregular migration movements all around the world due to di erent reasons and also, there are lot of organizations, international rules and regulations to control these activities. In parallel to International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations (UN) and United Nation High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR) every nation has a huge responsibility to control these irregular migration movements. Especially this irregular migration is interconnected with human tra cking, smuggling and lot of other illegal activities. “Immigrants and Emigrants Act, No 20 of 1948” introduced and powered on 1st of Nov 1949 to face these challenges as a responsible state. As same Sri Lankan irregular migration movements can be highlight in various eras since independence. Mainly during the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam LTTE war period, Post-war period, COVID-19 period and Economic Crisis periods are few of the main phases which increased the irregular migration movements from the island. Therefore, this research paper analyse the legal background against this irregular migration movement and authors discus the essential role of immigration and emigration act on curtailing irregular migration in Sri Lanka with statistics of irregular migration movements in Sri Lanka. Paper used both quantitative and qualitative research methods on this research to analyse the up and downs of the irregular migration movements and inter connection with the act.