SL Missions in India to coordinate early return of pilgrims

The Sri Lankan Missions in India, in consultation with the Foreign Relations and Buddha Sasana Ministries, continue their coordinating and facilitating endeavours for the early return of Sri Lankan Buddhist pilgrims currently in India, following the temporary closure of the Bandaranaike International Airport for inward commercial flights.   

The Foreign Relations Ministry said during the day of March 18, approximately 700 pilgrims returned to Sri Lanka from India by scheduled commercial flights and the High Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi and the Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka in Chennai facilitated their return travel, including through discussions with the relevant airlines to reschedule tickets.   

Following the departure of the last scheduled commercial flight to Sri Lanka from New Delhi on midnight of March 18 before the temporary closure of the BIA, as of yesterday at 10:00 hrs, a total of 871 Sri Lankan Buddhist pilgrims, belonging to 17 tour groups were remaining in India were expected to return from New Delhi and Chennai.   

The Sri Lanka Missions are closely in touch with these remaining tour groups in preparation for special aircraft that would be arranged by the Government of Sri Lanka to take them back home.   

In the meantime, SriLankan Airlines would also be accepting returning Sri Lankan pilgrims to the flights that it is operating to Delhi and Chennai daily for transit passengers. These flights are scheduled to leave Delhi and Chennai daily at 18:30 hrs. and 09:35 hrs. respectively during the period March 19-25. 

 
The two Missions are also working with SriLankan Airlines to accommodate the remaining pilgrims in these flights according to the availability of seats.     

The Sri Lanka Missions are closely in touch with these remaining tour groups in preparation for special aircraft that would be arranged by the Government of Sri Lanka to take them back home