1602750 (Refugee)

The applicants, who claimed to be Sri Lankan citizens, sought protection visas. Their claims were based on allegations of persecution due to their political opinion, specifically their affiliation with the United National Party (UNP) and their opposition to police corruption in Sri Lanka, which they contended placed them at risk of physical harm. The matter came before the Tribunal for review.

The Tribunal was required to determine whether the applicants had established a well-founded fear of persecution for a Convention reason, namely political opinion, and whether they would be unable to obtain effective protection from the Sri Lankan authorities. This involved assessing the credibility of the applicants' claims and considering the available documentary evidence.

The Tribunal acknowledged the applicants' capacity to give evidence, despite some past medical issues, and noted that while an applicant must satisfy the Tribunal of the statutory elements of their claim, a decision-maker is not obliged to accept all allegations uncritically. Initially, the Tribunal held significant concerns about the credibility of the applicants' claims. However, after the hearing, further documentary evidence was submitted which led the Tribunal to revise its view on certain disputed matters. The Tribunal's specific findings regarding the applicants' claims were then detailed.