SJB to repatriate Sri Lankan expatriates and start up quarantine centres

• Programme to be set up in each electoral constituency

By Yohan Perera  

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will start its own programme to repatriate Sri Lankan expatriates and start up quarantine centres in each electoral constituency, an MP representing the party said yesterday.   

SJB MP Hector Appuhamy told a media conference that his party was prepared to repatriate Sri Lankan expatriate workers and start up its own quarantine centres if the government failed to launch an effective programme to assist Sri Lankan expatriates. 

 
“We are prepared to work with the Foreign Employment Bureau to repatriate Sri Lankan expatriates and run our own centres to quarantine them. We have the ability to start up such an exercise,” Mr. Appuhamy said.  “We will also stage a protest on Friday, March 19 near the Presidential Secretariat to urge the government to assist Sri Lankan expatriates.” he added.  While alleging that the government is treating those with diplomatic passports and Sri Lankans with foreign passports differently, he said all Sri Lankan expatriates should be treated in the same way. “Sri Lankans with diplomatic and foreign passports are allowed to move freely without being quarantined,” he alleged.