Over 27,000 Sri Lankans express willingness to return : Foreign Ministry

• Govt. identified most vulnerable categories of Overseas Sri Lankans (OSLs), in the face of the limited availability of quarantine facilities in the country

By Sandun A. Jayasekera   

Around 27,000 Sri Lankans including over 17,000 migrant workers, their dependents, 6,000 students and about 3,000 short term visa holders and tourists had expressed their willingness to return to Sri Lanka, Foreign Relations Ministry Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha said. 

So far repatriations had been carried out by the government identifying the most vulnerable categories of Overseas Sri Lankans (OSLs), in the face of the limited availability of quarantine facilities in the country, as Sri Lanka continues to seek to gain control over the spread of COVID-19, Mr Aryasinha added.   

“The government’s focus in the present wave of repatriation was on students and those on government training in South Asia, considering the particular vulnerability they faced from a medical perspective.   

This repatriation process is being operationalised by Sri Lanka Missions in those countries in consultation with the Ministry, the COVID-19 Task Force and a host of national agencies. Similar developing situations elsewhere were also being closely monitored by the Ministry of Foreign Relations and appropriate recommendations will be made for the consideration of the policy makers, for decision and facilitation for repatriation,” Mr Aryasinha stressed.   
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s network of 67 Missions are assisting and facilitating Sri Lankan expatriates in need. In addition to provision of dry rations and medicines, where necessary with the assistance of local Sri Lanka community and religious organisations, Missions are also facilitating extension of visa, enabling repatriation/transfer of funds through banking channels, coordination with educational institutes and overall ensuring the well-being of OSLs.   

He said the specific situation in Kuwait, where an amnesty has been declared for over 19,000 workers who are out of status, has been a key focus of the Ministry. The Governments of Sri Lanka and Kuwait are in discussion to extend the amnesty period and the modalities of implementation were the focus of a discussion held this week by Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and the Kuwaiti Ambassador in Colombo Khalaf M. M. Bu Dhhair, pursuant to a telephone conversation held between Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Kuwati Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.   

Mr Aryasinha said following these discussions, conscious of the difficulty in repatriating persons to Sri Lanka at this time, a mutually beneficial decision is expected.   

Secretary Aryasinha noted that Missions abroad had been able to minimise the vulnerability faced by the OSLs migrant workers in most settings. Assistance provided by International organisations such as IOM, Caritas and Red Crescent societies have been supportive to further the efforts of the Missions. He said the Mission in Seoul, ROK had assured that while there had been delays in some commencing their employment contracts, their jobs were secure.   

The Mission is also engaged in discussions with local authorities to extend the contractual periods of those currently due to complete their contracts in the Korea. The Mission is additionally seeking opportunities to fill any gaps in employment, which could arise due to the dislocation caused by the present pandemic.      

• The government’s focus in the present wave of repatriation was on students and those on government training in South Asia, considering the particular vulnerability they faced from a medical perspective