The Government has paid its attention to repatriate Sri Lankans stranded in foreign countries to the country as a result of the situation that has arisen due to the spread of COVID-19. Industrial Export, Investment Promotion, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Prasanna Ranatunga said yesterday that both President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa expect to bring them back to Sri Lanka soon after the Government manages to bring the pandemic under control swiftly. A group of Sri Lankans and individuals in several countries have urged the Sri Lankan government to repatriate them to Sri Lanka while making requests through social media, explaining the situation they are in.
Most of the requests are made by Sri Lankan students studying in foreign universities as well as government officials who had gone overseas for educational purposes. They are in serious trouble due to the extension of the curfew and lockdown in those countries. The Foreign Relations Ministry has already been intervened to obtain information of these stranded people through Embassies and High Commissions and Consular offices in their respective countries. Therefore, plans are afoot to bring them back to Sri Lanka on the recommendations of health authorities after submitting all these information to the Cabinet of Minsters. Once the government gives approval, Sri Lankan Airlines will do the needful in collaboration with the Foreign Relations Ministry.
(Daily Neww)