Operations to evacuate Sri Lankans abroad begins, first flight to Pakistan

April 19, 2020 at 2:04 PM

Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority announced that they have allowed Sri Lanka to operate a special flight to Pakistan to take back Sri Lankans stranded in Pakisitan.

Pakistan’s ARY News reported that Pakistan has approved a request by the Sri Lankan High Commission to operate a cargo/repatriation flight on Colombo-Karachi-Lahore-Colombo sector on April 21 through Sri Lankan Airlines while uplifting 113 Sri Lankan nationals has been approved by the competent authority.

The permissions are subjected to the condition that no disembarkation of flight crew will be permitted from the aircraft upon arrival at the airports in Pakistan. However, cargo may be off-loaded/uplifted at arrival/departure at the airports.

Sri Lankan Airport officials confirmed that Sri Lanka will operate special flights to bring back Sri Lankans abroad. After a flight to Pakistan, a flight will go to India to bring back Sri Lankans stranded there, Airport official said.

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