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The first batch of Sri Lankans leaves Doha in special repatriation flight

27 May 2020, 08:21

The first batch of Sri Lankans departed from Doha as part of a repatriation drive by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Qatar, yesterday. A total of 275 were onboard Srilankan Airlines flight UL 218 departed from Hamad International Airport.

The group consisted of 26 released inmates, 5 safe house inmates, 17 pregnant women, 19 visit and other short term visa holders, and 206 migrant workers who have been terminated or resigned from their jobs.

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Doha, Qatar in close collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Relations, the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo and Srilankan Airlines repatriated Sri Lankans. All repatriated Sri Lankans will be undergoing mandatory quarantine at designated government quarantine centers or at hotels allocated for this purpose.

“The embassy wishes to extend its sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Administration Development, Labour and Social Affairs, the Civil Aviation Authority of Qatar and Hamad International Airport for their invaluable assistance and corporation endeavors,” Ratnasingam Kohularangan, Acting Ambassidor at the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Qatar, told The Peninsula.

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With approximately 120, 000 Sri Lankans living and working in Qatar, the mission has implemented several initiatives to support the community related to COVID-19 situation and other related issues.

The Embassy is connected with Sri Lankan expatriates through social media platforms and embassy website. We keep them updated with regard to the information receiving from the Government authorities in Sri Lanka and Qatar.The mission has assigned three telephone numbers for expatriates to contact the embassy, especially for labour related issues at this time. Also the embassy has appointed a medically qualified person to help the community with health related issues,” said Kohularangan.

“The embassy provide dry food rations to provide to the needy Sri Lankan expatriates. Qatar Charity, well-wishers, and Sri Lankan Associations have donated dry food items,” he said.

Many have registered in embassy to travel back to Sri Lanka in repatriation drive. According embassy guidelines, priority will be given to pregnant women, urgent medical cases, workers in distress, senior citizens as well as to other people who are stranded in difficult situations.

“The embassy has been supportive since I approached them. They also arranged my travel ticket as I lost my job and couldn’t bear the expenses. Thankfully finally I’m going back to Sri Lanka,” said Mohamed Muthalib, who was working in Doha as a labourer for nearly two years.

While, Chathura Weerasinghe was travelling home due to a medical condition and he said, “I’m working here for around one and half years and now in need of a surgery. I preferred to do it back in Sri Lanka because I’m living here alone.” He was expecting to return back to Doha, when the situation improve.

SriLankan Airlines operate special repatriation flights to different destinations including the Middle East under special COVID-19 airline operational procedures that include the use of Personal Protective Equipment for staff, deep cleaning, fogging and de-misting procedures to disinfect aircraft, etc.

SriLankan Airlines in a recent statement about its repatriation flights said, that they will operate special passenger flights as and when required, in order to continue to reach out to fellow Sri Lankans in need.

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