State-sponsored repatriation for selected expatriates 

COLOMBO (News 1st): A decision has been reached to repatriate Sri Lankan expatriates facing financial difficulties, under state sponsorship based on the instructions of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Prime Minister's office said. The Prime Minister has instructed the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment and other involved entities to ensure that the government pays 50 percent of the ticket price, a statement from the Premier's office read. Further, the Prime Minister has also instructed to issue tickets at concessionary rates for other Sri Lankans and pay attention to revising the quarantine period for Sri Lankans, the PM's office noted. The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment was further instructed to implement a suitable programme with the Health sector on allowing returnees who are not infected with the virus, to undergo home-quarantine, following PCR tests. According to the Prime Minister's Office, there are 22,483 Sri Lankans wanting to return to the country.