SL suspends expat repatriation

Sri Lanka has reached a decision to suspend the repatriation of its expatriate citizens owing to the lack of  sufficient space at quarantine centres, upon the identification of a new cluster of corornovirus cases from Kandakadu recently.

 

However, the above decision has been subjected to a controversial uproar among the emmigrnats and several civic groups.

 

Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau stated that although 40,000 Sri Lankans abroad have sought to return, only 16,456 individuals had been repatriated by July 16.

 

The economists are in the view that the national and domestic economies are unfavorably affected owing to the reduction in remmittances sent by those who are employed overseas, to Sri Lanka. 

 

As per the official statistics, 35 Sri Lankans have passed away due to the COVID-19 pandemic, abroad.