113 returnees from overseas tested for COVID-19

275 Sri Lankan expatriates stranded in Qatar to be repatriated soon

by Zulfick Farzan 26-05-2020 | 2:59 PM

Colombo (News 1st): The Government is taking necessary measures to repatriate 275 Sri Lankan expatriates in Qatar as soon as possible, said Admiral Professor Jayanath Colombage, the Additional Secretary to the President for Foreign Relations regarding COVID-19, adding 50 Sri Lankan expectant mothers are among those anticipating to return to Sri Lanka.

Admiral Colombage said these women would be repatriated either on Tuesday or on Wednesday.

On Monday Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Ariyasingha instructed Sri Lanka’s Acting Ambassador in Qatar, to immediately find accommodation for those stranded, following the cancellation of the SriLankan Airlines flight from Qatar, which was scheduled for the day.

Admiral Professor Jayanath Colombage, the Additional Secretary to the President for Foreign Relations said the flight was canceled as returnees from Kuwait who were undergoing quarantine tested positive for COVID-19 in large numbers.

Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army and the Acting Chief of Defence Staff said 113 people who returned from overseas tested positive for COVID-19 thus far.

Among them are 90 Sri Lankans who returned from Kuwait and 18 from Dubai.

The others are 02 from the UK, 01 from Malaysia, 01 from Indonesia, and 01 from India.

The Army Commander said during the first phase of repatriations 34 from Italy, 03 from the UK and 03 from Oman had tested positive for COVID-19.