Repatriation of OSLs constrained by limited availability of quarantine facilities - Sri Lanka engaged with Kuwait to secure an extension of amnesty deadline
Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha has said, so far repatriations have been carried out by the GOSL 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 in Sri Lanka. In comments on Friday - 24 April, (to Sirasa Radio and the “Dawasa” TV programme), the Secretary said through the ‘Contact Sri Lanka’ web portal and other means, to - date , over 27,000 OSLs have expressed their wish to return . This number includes over 17 ,000 migrant workers and dependents, 6,000 students and about 3,000 short term visa holders and tourists.
Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha has observed that even as the Foreign Ministry was preoccupied with endeavouring to mitigate a multitude of problems faced by Overseas Sri Lankans, it was in parallel also seeking to re-position Sri Lanka’s exports in the context of market conditions that have arisen as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. He said if this was successful, Sri Lanka would emerge one step ahead in the global supply chain, in a post COVID-19 world.
Exactly a year ago, on April 21st, 2019 a group of extremists bent on a macabre agenda unleashed a sequence of terror targeting Catholic churches and tourist hotels.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) is aware that some Sri Lankans who have gone abroad, for short visits for leisure and holidays, meet relatives and friends, pilgrimage, business purposes, training, seminars and conferences, medical treatments, sports, recreational and cultural activities, etc., and on student or equivalent visas, are stranded abroad amidst the prevailing global pandemic situation and that their families in Sri Lanka are keen to send money to meet living expenses/up keep of such persons in overseas. In this regard, CBSL wishes to make the following clarifications.
On this day, Sri Lanka remembers all those lives lost and changed forever in barbaric acts of violence one year ago. We share the grief of families who lost their loved ones and stand in solidarity with those countries which lost their nationals.