The repatriation of Sri Lankans stranded overseas due to the COVID-19 pandemic will resume on Friday (July 31), the Presidential Secretariat said.
“A group of Sri Lankan migrant workers will be repatriated from Dubai on the 31st of July and 1st of August,” Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage – the Additional Secretary to the President for Foreign Relations, told media on Tuesday (July 28).
Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage further said, the repatriation of Sri Lankans was temporarily suspended in the past few days, as a result of the situation at the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Centre.
“We are hoping to make room for more repatriates from other countries at the quarantine centres,” Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage said; adding the process of repatriation will be expedited based on the recommendations from the Sri Lanka Army and the health authorities.
Speaking to media, Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage said prior to arriving in Sri Lanka all returnees must undergo PCR tests, adding that the test results must show Negative for the virus.
“The passengers will once again be subjected to PCR tests upon arrival at the airport. Again the returnees will be subjected to PCR tests at quarantine centres, around 10 to 12 days after arrival,” Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage told.
Based on the test results, they will then be released to their families once they complete the mandatory quarantine period of 14 days and return negative on PCR tests.
