The number of people voluntarily returning to Sri Lanka has “decreased substantially” in the recent past, says Antonio Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, while urging the government to create comfortable conditions for them to consider the possibility of returning.

“We need to look into what are the obstacles and how the two governments of India and Sri Lanka, working together can improve the conditions and create opportunities for the voluntary repatriation of the people,” he said, adding, “voluntary is the key word here”.

When inquired whether the Government of Sri Lanka doing enough to help the displaced people, Guterres stated that more needs to be done by the governments of the country of origin, to create conditions for people to feel comfortable about considering the possibility of returning.

It has to do with the living conditions, work, education, health, property and security; these are all key questions that need to be addressed for the voluntary repatriation of the people, he said in an interview with The Hindu.

The former Prime Minister of Portugal, who was in India recently, stressed the importance for the governments of the country of origin do everything possible to re-establish the confidence of people.

“And I hope it will be also possible in the near future to intensify the voluntary repatriation of the Tamils into Sri Lanka,” he said.

The UNHCR has been running several welfare programmes to support the people that returned and the internally displaced people of Sri Lanka.

“We are already cooperating with India and ready to intensify our programme in order offer our contribution to the successful operation of people going back to their homes whenever possible with safety and dignity.”