The body of Sri Lankan national Kishanth Peramaiya remains in Eswatini two weeks after his death.
His burial, according to acting Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli, is still pending as authorities continue discussions over arrangements involving the governments concerned.
Peramaiya died in Eswatini while temporarily residing in the country under an arrangement with the government of the United Kingdom.
His death has left a diplomatic and humanitarian matter to be resolved, with the Eswatini government confirming that consultations between the relevant authorities were still underway at the time it publicly acknowledged his death.
Mdluli said, “We are aware that the British government is in touch with the deceased’s family on this important matter.”
Peramaiya’s death was announced by government on September 28.
His presence in Eswatini was linked to efforts by the UK to relocate him to a third country after he was unable to return to the UK and return to Sri Lanka was not considered a viable option.
The UK and Eswatini governments had been discussing his potential long-term residence in the kingdom when he died, according to the Eswatini government’s statement.
The circumstances surrounding his death were also the subject of a police investigation after he was reportedly found dead at a guest house in September.
Under third-country nationals programme, Eswatini has received several groups of people who are nationals of countries other than Eswatini or the United States.
The first group of five arrived in July 2025 and comprised nationals of Cuba, Jamaica, Laos, Vietnam and Yemen.
Further groups followed, including 10 people in October 2025, four in March 2026, 11 in July and two Mexican nationals in August.
Government has maintained that the individuals are in the kingdom temporarily and that their fundamental rights are protected under the country’s laws and its international obligations.
Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Prince Simelane has also insisted that the US deportees are not prisoners, despite some of them being accommodated at correctional facilities. So far Eswatini has repatriated 10 nationals between September last year and October this year.
| Period / Date | Cohort Size | Nationalities Represented | Operational Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2025 | 5 individuals | Cuba, Jamaica, Laos, Vietnam, Yemen | Inaugural group received under third-country arrangement. |
| October 2025 | 10 individuals | Third-country nationals | Second major cohort received for temporary settlement. |
| March 2026 | 4 individuals | Third-country nationals | Continued transfers under bilateral humanitarian framework. |
| July 2026 | 11 individuals | Third-country nationals | Fourth group admitted into Eswatini jurisdiction. |
| August 2026 | 2 individuals | Mexico | Transferred under external deportation/relocation pacts. |
| Sept 2025 – Oct 2026 | 10 individuals | Various | Successfully repatriated out of Eswatini to secondary or home destinations. |
Official records of third-country national arrivals and repatriations reported by the Government of Eswatini.
