Two Sri Lankans en-route to South Korea stranded at the Narita Interantional Airport in Japan

COLOMBO (News 1st): Two Sri Lankans who left for South Korea, have been stranded at the Narita International Airport in Japan as they lack completed quarantine documents, officials said. "The duo is stranded at the Narita Airport, as they lack completed quarantine documents," said Mr. K.K.A.P. Premalal - Legal Counsellor at the Korea Support Centre for Foreign Workers, to News1st on Friday (May 22). A group of 26 Sri Lankans including the duo currently stranded at the Narita Airport, have left for Japan aboard a Sri Lankan Airlines flight, on the 26th of April. Upon arriving at the Narita International Airport in Tokyo, Japan, it has been revealed that they did not possess the required quarantine documents to enter South Korea, thereby, they had been declined permission to board South Korea's flag carrier Korean Air flight from the Narita airport. The duo also does not have a visa to stay in Japan. Authorities at the Narita Airport, have decided to repatriate the two individuals back to Sri Lanka as they have been declined permission to travel to South Korea due to the lack of mandatory quarantine documents, according to Premalal. "The duo are unable to return to Sri Lanka, as they do not have the adequate money to purchase tickets to return to the island," told Premalal to News 1st. Further emphasizing on the importance of quarantine documents, Premalal said it is mandatory for anyone returning to South Korea for employment, to obtain the relevant documents from the Sri Lankan Foreign Employment Bureau, fill them and forward the completed documents to the Human Resources Development Service of South Korea, prior to arriving in South Korea. "The Human Resources Development Service of South Korea will conduct an investigation with the relevant workplaces in the country and confirm whether the individual will be allowed to return to the country," said Premalal. Furthermore, Premala noted, that the South Korean government is of the strict condition that anyone who travels to South Korea, without the relevant quarantine documents and/or those who violate the mandatory 14-day quarantine, will be declined permission to enter the country. Therefore, Premalal urged the Sri Lankans travelling to South Korea for employment or returning after vacation, to ensure that they follow the aforementioned procedure and wait for confirmation from the Human Resources Development Service of South Korea, before purchasing air tickets. However, Premalal did not comment on any measures undertaken by the relevant authorities to facilitate the repatriation of the two Sri Lankans. News 1st attempted to inquire on the matter from officials of the Foreign Employment Bureau, but our efforts were futile.