Around 60 Sri Lankan Tamils stranded on the remote island of Diego Garcia for over three years will be offered the chance to move to the UK, according to a government proposal revealed on Monday. The group, living in a makeshift camp on the island that hosts a UK-US military base, had filed the first-ever asylum claims there, sparking lengthy legal battles.

In a letter to lawyers, government officials announced a policy shift, stating that families, children, and unaccompanied men without criminal records or ongoing investigations would be given the opportunity to relocate to the UK. A formal decision on the matter is expected within 48 hours.

The migrants have endured harsh conditions on the island, with reports of inhumane living arrangements and numerous instances of hunger strikes and self-harm. Legal representatives hailed the offer as a "welcome step," after years of legal struggles for the group's right to safety and asylum.

The UK government previously resisted bringing the migrants to the UK, offering alternative options such as relocation to Romania or financial incentives for return to Sri Lanka. This new development comes shortly after the UK announced plans to hand sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius, though the military base will remain operational.

The decision to relocate the migrants to the UK follows months of pressure from human rights groups and legal advocates who have highlighted the dire conditions on Diego Garcia, where the migrants have been trapped since their arrival.