A group of Sri Lankans who were stranded in Dubai due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has been brought back to the island this morning (07), says Ada Derana reporter.
A special flight (UL226), chartered by SriLankan Airlines, had returned to the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) at around 6.20 am with 197 locals repatriated from Dubai.
All the passengers and their luggage have been decontaminated by Air Force personnel.
Health officers and security officers attached to the airport had measured the body temperature of the passengers and checked them for COVID-19 symptoms.
The repatriated Sri Lankans were then sent off to quarantine centres by the Air Force personnel.
Cabinet spokesman minister Bandula Gunawardena yesterday said that the government has repatriated many Sri Lankan students and they have been sent to quarantine centers.
This process is carried out on a priority list and actions will be taken
gradually repatriate migrant workers, he said.
Sri Lankan workers in Middle East will be repatriated as the next step. It is expected to bring the persons in Maldives, Kuwait and Dubai who need to come back to Sri Lanka, he said.
Accordingly, Sri Lankans will be repatriate providing opportunity for the individuals who claim that they need to return to Sri Lanka and will he sent to quarantine centers, the minister added.
