In
these circumstances we appeal to the government of Sri Lanka to:

• Ensure that refugees and asylum seekers
  are not deported or otherwise forced to return to their countries of
  origin or any other place where their lives or freedoms would be at risk,
  which would represent a violation of the international legal principle of
  non-refoulment;
• Deploy adequate law enforcement officers
  to ensure the protection and security of vulnerable refugees and asylum
  seekers, especially those who are now displaced, and provide basic
  humanitarian assistance including food, water, shelter, sanitation, and
  other social services in line with the minimum core content of their
  economic, social and cultural rights;
• Urgently relocate the refugees sheltering
  in a police station and places of worship to appropriate locations with
  adequate sanitation, sleeping space, and security. Work with UNHCR to
  ensure the welfare of the many small children among the refugees;
• Seek UNHCR assistance in managing
  settlements so that they are not de facto detention camps and make efforts
  to ensure their safety;

Clarify
publicly that any attacks on these vulnerable groups will not be tolerated, and
reiterate that these attacks will be investigated with the view of bringing
perpetrators to justice;

• Work with third countries who have
  already agreed to resettle some of the refugees to urgently expedite the
  settlement process.