Nearly 50, 000 more Sri Lankan migrants, who were stranded overseas during the COVID-19 pandemic, are set to be repatriated by the Government in the future.
Under the repatriation program carried out by the Government, a total of 19,000 Sri Lankan migrant workers have already returned to the country.
Additional Secretary to the President Admiral Jayanath Colombage said the Government has repatriated Sri Lankan migrant workers from 93 countries as of Tuesday(11).
“Another 50, 000 migrant workers have registered to be repatriated to Sri Lanka due to the COVID-19 pandemic and financial crisis faced due to the situation, with many losing their employment’, he said.
Earlier, the repatriation program was temporarily halted twice due to the coronavirus outbreak at the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Centre and the General Elections 2020.
Admiral Colombage further refuted reports claiming there were restrictions for specific countries to repatriate stranded Sri Lankan migrant workers who were forced into unemployment.
He assured that the Government will make necessary arrangements to continue to operate flights in order to repatriate those who have registered to return to Sri Lanka.
The exact date to conclude the repatriation program has not been decided as yet due to various logistical issues faced by Sri Lanka and other countries in this regard, he added. (Newswire)