Efforts to repatriate Sri Lankans from Lebanon will continue – Foreign Ministry [Monday, July 31, 2006 - 10.30 GMT]

“Another 324 Sri Lankans arrived in the island last night (30th) via Indian Airlines. They were taken from Beirut to Cyprus in an Indian navy vessel. They were flown directly home from Cyprus by Indian Airlines”, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Himali Arunatilake.

A Foreign Ministry official was sent to Cyprus to coordinate this operation with Sri Lanka’s Hon. Consul, and the Indian Embassy officials in Cyprus.

The Government’s evacuation effort of Sri Lankans continues for the 17^th day since the crisis in Lebanon. As of now, nearly 1600 Sri Lankans have been repatriated and reunited with their families.

The Foreign Ministry, the Labour Ministry and the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) are coordinating the effort to repatriate Sri Lankans from Lebanon through the Task Force at the Ministry in Colombo, in Damascus, Latakia in Syria, and in Beirut.

The spokesperson further said the evacuation process will continue with the assistance of Qatar Airways this week, to bring home over 1000 Sri Lankans currently at the Sri Lanka Embassy in Lebanon, awaiting repatriation. 

The government of Qatar has promised Sri Lanka the use of a Qatar Airways Airbus A 300 with a capacity of 250 passengers at a time, for the next 10 days, solely for the evacuation of Sri Lankans. The Airbus will in the coming days bring home Sri Lankans from Lebanon, via Damascus, Syria. 

Sri Lanka Embassy in Lebanon is coordinating the road transport from Beirut to Damascus with the assistance of IOM, while Caritas is providing transit accommodation facilities in Damascus. The first Qatar Airways flight is scheduled to arrive in Katunayaka at 07.30 a.m. on Tuesday August 1.

The Government of Sri Lanka expressed its gratitude to the governments of India and Qatar for their assistance, as well to IOM (International Organisation for Migration) and Caritas for their continued assistance in the evacuation effort.

Arunatilaka said the Foreign Ministry, together with the Ministry of Labour Welfare and Employment and the SLBFE will continue its efforts to bring back all Sri Lankans who wish to return home from Lebanon.

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Last Updated Date: July 31, 2006 -10.30 GMT