Immigration solicitor Mr. V.P Lingajothy discusses the issues Sri Lankan women face while trying to

Two years ago Mr V.P Lingajothy wrote the controversial postscript of ‘The native chieftains of Vanni’ entitled ‘Mullaitivu falls to the Tamil forces 210 years ago today- will history once again repeat itself?’

He is now working on a book called ‘The Last Great Rebellion of Vanni’. Born in Mullaitivu, he moved to the UK in 1983 after mass rioting broke out in Sri Lanka. Having read Law at Southampton, he mainly works as an Immigration solicitor at Linga & Co. in London and is also a fellow of the Royal School of Medicine. He discussed with warzonewomen, some of the difficulties faced by Sri Lankan women when they try and seek refuge or asylum.

What’s the difference between a refugee and an Asylum seeker?

A refugee is outside their country of nationality due to fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, belonging to a certain social group, or holding a particular political opinion and is unable to return without risking their safety. An asylum seeker is a person seeking to become a refugee.

When women leave Sri Lanka hoping for a better life abroad, what difficulties do they face?

Men face the difficulty of adjusting to their environment but women must adjust in a more in-depth way. If they come from traditional backgrounds and have been somewhat closeted from the outside world and if their parents have always protected them, they don’t have the same level of exposure that men may have had before coming here. In the West you can always get advice from various professionals e.g. GPs, councillors, other health professionals but sometimes women who have been sheltered do not want to use these facilities even though they know they exist.

What are some of the challenges of your job?

I have worked as a voluntary councillor and to a large extent I can penetrate the minds of my clients. Some stories are really sad and depressing to hear, young girls have been rounded up and questioned by the army and kept for months as sex slaves, I have to wear my councillor hat when I talk to people like that. I’ve had tears in my eyes because of some of the stories I’ve heard. Sometimes victims who have been through so much unfortunately get lumped together with those who give fake stories to immigration authorities. I often need to take things with a pinch of salt. I’m not stupid and I always know who is telling the truth. Another difficulty is that clients often nod their heads to everything I say and I am against that, they need to share their views and experiences, there needs to be proper interaction with clients before going through the courts.

What moments stand out to you in your career?

I’ve lost two cases in the past where I knew both people were telling the truth and I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t try my best for them. In one case I could see the judge wasn’t recording what was happening so by putting in various requests I demanded to see what he wrote. I tried to get him impeached and I put my career on the line. I also got the psychiatrist to confirm that everything he said in his report was correct and that the judge had no right to dismiss it. Thankfully, that individual got to stay in this country, but I’m still working on the other case.

What advice do you have for asylum seekers or refugees adjusting to life in the West?

If a girl is from a village and has never fended for herself, she should make arrangements for a relative or friend to receive her and help her, she needs a home to turn to. The next step is to find a good lawyer. Asylum seekers need to know their rights. They also need to look into what they are told by immigration advisers to make sure it is all correct. For refugees who are adjusting to life here I would encourage them to learn English, network and learn about social graces. To adjust to life here, people need to form relationships on their own. Walk before you can run. When people move to Britain, Canada, Switzerland or wherever, they’re still facing a huge battle. I also think women should sensitively adopt good points from the West and East, don’t just abandon what you grew up with.

What are your hopes for the future of women’s rights in Sri Lanka?

I’d say it’s bleak but I’m not a pessimist. I know my female relatives who live in villages would like to see their cousins all over the world and try to simulate their style which is good, but those in Sri Lanka often think the grass is greener and that’s not always the case. For girls who are educated and do not live in the worst-affected areas of Sri Lanka, they live in the information age, they know how their counterparts in the West live and if they can try and adopt the best of both worlds then the future is bright.

#interview