I wish to make use of this occasion of the International Workers’ Day to salute and pay my respect to the working masseswho are making boundless sacrifices in the face of challenges before the nation caused by COVID – 19 outbreak.

Many were the challenges we faced and overcame throughout history. In each such instance, working class in the country is the segment that was directly affected and at the forefront. History has proven their resilience and commitment, which, indeed is a great credit to the working class. It is certain that we will win the battle against COVID – 19 as we had conquered all the difficulties in the past,hand in hand with the working class.

April 26 2020, Colombo : SriLankan Airlines wishes to clarify details of social media posts that are currently circulating, implying that the airline has charged an excessive sum of money from passengers who were on a specially operated flight to repatriate stranded Sri Lankan students from India to Sri Lanka.

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.

I deeply empathize with the families of all those who lost their lives and sustained grave injuries, the Catholic community and entire Sri Lankan citizenry who were terrorized by these horrifying massacres.

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.