Govt to bring back 33 Lankans stranded abroad

UPDATE

The Government plans to bring back 33 Sri Lankans stranded in 13 airports around the world due to the sudden halt of air movements and closures of airports including Sri Lanka due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Cabinet approval has been granted for a proposal made in this regard by Foreign Affairs Minister Dinesh Gunawardene, Co-cabinet Spokesman Plantation Industries and Export Agriculture Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana announced yesterday at the Weekly Cabinet Media Briefing held yesterday at the Government Information Department.

Accordingly, five Sri Lankans from Oman Muscat, three from Dubai, seven from Singapore, one from Ethiopia, two from Turkey, one from Malaysia, one from New Delhi, one from Maldives, two from London, one from Seychelles, three from Papua New Guinea, one from Portugal and five from Egypt would be brought back to Sri Lanka.

All those who arrive from these countries would have to undergo a 21-day quarantine period.

Minister Pathirana said a large number of Sri Lankans are willing to come back to Sri Lanka and measures would also be taken to allow them to come to Sri Lanka after controlling the spreading of COVID-19 virus within the country.

 

Approval to repatriate 33 Sri Lankans stranded at foreign airports

Camelia Nathaniel

Cabinet approval has been granted for a proposal presented by Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to repatriate 33 Sri Lankans stranded at foreign airports, Cabinet Co-Spokesman Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said during the media briefing to notify the Cabinet decisions today (09).

 

Addressing the media briefing at the Government Information Centre Minister Pathirana said that once they are brought back to the country, they would be subjected to a 21 day quarantine process.

 

“We are taking many systematic measures to control the spread of the Covid-19 virus. The Cabinet paper presented by the President in this regard received the Cabinet nod. Further, the government is taking steps to provide relief measures to 5.4 million people who deserve it prior to the New Year.

 

With the intervention of the government officers, the lists of those entitled to receive these concessions are currently being prepared and a special aid system is being formulated. The government has also taken steps to grant these needy families Rs. 5000. The government is doing everything possible to ease the pressure on the people and provide the maximum relief to the people,” Minister Pathirana said.