DHAKA: Sri Lankan rights activists have gone to the country’s highest court in a bid to stop the government summarily deporting Afghan, Iranian and Pakistani refugees.

Their lawyer said on Saturday, reports The Straits Times.

Six human rights defenders have petitioned the Supreme Court to challenge the expulsions, which are being carried out despite warnings that Sri Lanka is in breach of its international obligations, lawyer Lakshan Dias told media.

‘The case is coming up on September 29,’ Dias said.

‘We feel that some of the people who are being sent back face real danger. They have life-threatening conditions if they go back. That is why local rights defenders decided to file this case.’

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in a statement on Friday urged Sri Lanka to stop arrests and deportations of those who have filed refugee claims with the agency’s Colombo offices and sought access to those already detained.

BDST: 1732 HRS, SEP 13, 2014