Foreign Ministry Director General, East Asia, KandeepanBalasubramaniam, said about 600 migrant workers were repatriated since the process recommenced on Tuesday (17) after a brief suspension. This was in keeping with the instructions of the Foreign Ministry Secretary.
He said Sri Lankans from Qatar, Dubai, Kuwait, Italy and Oman had returned. Five flights have been scheduled till November 28 to repatriate migrant workers. About 67,000 Sri Lankans have applied for repatriation and more are expected to register in the following months, the authorities said.
Thus far, the Ministry has facilitated the repatriation of 45,000 Sri Lankans living abroad from 126 countries. The process was stalled when the domestic number of Covid-19 patients saw a sudden spike. The Foreign Ministry has received information from ‘reliable sources’ that groups are attempting to scam Sri Lankans wishing to return to the country andaskedthem to be cautious.
Balasubramaniam said that some scammers are taking money from people with the promise of entry to the country. “We wish to alert the public. Repatriation is done only by the Sri Lankan Government and no other party has the authority to do so,” he said.
The Ministry in a media release issued last week called upon those enteringand leaving the country to be cautious of such scams. It said,“no individual or entity is authorised by the Sri Lankan Government to facilitate entry to or exit from Sri Lanka other than the Government institutions concerned”.
Contact Sri Lanka web portal at https://www.contactsrilanka.mfa.gov.lk/ for more information.