Journey Without a Destination: Is there a solution for Sri Lankan refugees?

First published in 1993 by the British Refugee Council, Journey without a Destination is the story of Sri Lanka's bloody civil war, told in the words of those displaced by the fighting. Based on hundreds of interviews, it reveals the complexities of the situation from which they are fleeing as well as the multiple threats and traumas they face before, during and after their flight. What emerges is an incisive oral history of Tamil and Sinhalese nationalism and a human cost that can never be adequately measured. The opinions of these refugees regarding explanations for the conflict and possible solutions may vary, yet a great deal of wisdom can be gleaned from their responses, and any viable solution would need to take their viewpoints seriously. In 1993, Sri Lankan Tamils constituted a significant proportion of refugees worldwide. They have subsequently been outnumbered by refugees from other countries, but the method of investigation and observations made in this book are as relevant to the current refugees: the importance of understanding the complexities of the situation causing their exodus, listening to their viewpoints, ensuring humane asylum policies and, given that most refugees wish to return to their country, seeking a just solution to the conflict they are fleeing.