No repatriation from 14th July: Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage

COLOMBO (News 1st): Close to 15,750 Sri Lankans in 75 countries who were stranded overseas due to the COVID-19 pandemic were successfully repatriated to Sri Lanka, Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage - the Additional Secretary to the President for Foreign Relations said on Monday (July 13). "The repatriation process was conducted, while the airport was temporarily closed for foreign arrivals, therefore the government of Sri Lanka handled this process very carefully. The repatriation of almost all Sri Lankan students who wished to return to the island has been completed," Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage told News 1st. According to Admiral Prof. Colombage, plans are currently underway to facilitate the repatriation of Sri Lankan migrant workers in the Middle East and the Maldives in the future. "Given the COVID-19 cluster that emerged at the Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre - Kandakadu, the government decided to temporarily halt the repatriation operation from tomorrow (July 14th), for few days," the Additional Secretary to the President for Foreign Relations further said. Admiral Prof. Colombage noted the possibility of recommencement would be reviewed when the situation of the COVID-19 cluster at Kandakadu rehab centre improves.