A group of Indian nationals who had been unable to leave Sri Lanka due to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, left to India this morning (15).

The group of 156 Indians had left on the Air India charter flight AI 1202 at 10.15 am today.

The flight will first land at the Cochin Airport in India before reaching the destination at the Bangalore Airport.

Once the passengers reach India they will be quarantined for 7 days at hotels near the airport and another 7 days at their homes.

High Commissioner of India H.E. GopalBaglay met the Indian nationals at the Bandaranaike International Airport and bid them a safe journey. He expressed happiness at their return to their homeland. He thanked the Government and people of Sri Lanka for their cooperation in the repatriation of stranded Indian nationals from Sri Lanka. 

The Indian nationals who were stranded in Sri Lanka due to restrictions on international travel because of the COVID-19 pandemic expressed their happiness at going home. Over 1000 Indian nationals have been repatriated from Sri Lanka so far including this flight through a special Air India Flight on 29 May 2020, Indian Naval Ship Jalashwawhich made a voyage from Colombo to Tuticorin on 01 June and through various charter flights. 

The next special flight from Sri Lanka Air India AI 0282 from Colombo to Delhi-Lucknow-Gaya is scheduled on 22 June, 2020.

Based on the registrations received by the High Commission of India, a passenger manifest has been prepared for these travels/voyages. Priority is being given to compelling cases in distress, including migrant workers/laborers who have been laid off, short term visa holders faced with the expiry of visa, people with medical emergency/ pregnant women/elderly, those required to return to India due to death of a family member, and students as stated in the Standard Operating Procedure issued by Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.

Those stranded Indian nationals who have not yet registered with the High Commission may kindly do so on the following link -https://hcicolombo.gov.in/COVID_helpline.

The High Commission of India in Colombo urges all stranded Indian nationals to be patient and follow the updates on High Commission’s website and social media.