Over 400 respond

27 July 2010 08:10 am

Over 400 Sri Lankan living in Lebanon illegally have so far responded to an amnesty period offered by the country to return to Sri Lanka without facing any penalties, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Lebanon M. Mahroof told Daily Mirror online.

According to the envoy some 250 Sri Lankans visited the Sri Lankan embassy in Lebanon yesterday and another 200 today seeking the relevant documents to return to Sri Lanka before the three month amnesty period expires.

The grace period follows negotiations the envoy had with the Interior Minister of the country adding that notices will now be published informing all Sri Lankans of the offer.

“According to the Lebanese law those overstaying must pay over US $ 200 as penalties. But now Sri Lankans living in Lebanon illegally as well as those in prison can return to the country without paying any penalties.

Sri Lankans seeking to make use of this opportunity must visit the Sri Lankan Embassy in Lebanon and obtain the relevant documents but will have to bear the travel costs on their own, the envoy added.

There are nearly 80,000 Sri Lankans living in Lebanon for over 30 years and of this approximately 2000 are believed to be staying in the country illegally, Ambassador Mahroof added. (Daily Mirror online)