Repatriation of Sri Lankans to resume from next week

Army Commander and Head of the National Operation Center for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak, Lt. General Shavendra Silva said authorities will resume the repatriation process to bring back stranded Sri Lankans from overseas by next week after it was halted due to the sudden spike in COVID-19 cases here.

Silva told Daily Mirror that all Sri Lankan nationals who are overseas and wish toreturn will be brought back in batches, with special emphasis placed on those stranded in the Middle East.

He said the repatriation process would resume without it having any impact on society.

"Since Sri Lankans stranded overseas face issues there, we will resume the program again next week from different countries, mainly focusing on the Middle East," Silva said.

Those returning will be subjected to PCR tests and will be sent to government run quarantine centers or paid quarantine facilities.(JAMILA HUSAIN)