Colombo: A group Sri Lankan students, who were unable to return to the country when travel restrictions were imposed to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, arrived in the country from Dubai this morning.

SriLankan Airlines special flight UL -226 with 197 Sri Lankan students arrived at the Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport at 6.20 am Thursday (07).

All passengers arrived on board the aircraft were disinfected by the Sri Lanka Air Force before they entered the terminal buildings. Airport Health Medical Officers and Airport Security Officers checked their body temperatures.

In addition, officials also inquired passengers privately to ascertain whether any of them is showing COVID-19 symptoms. Following preliminary health checks the group was taken to quarantine centers in special Army buses for 14-day mandatory quarantine.

Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage, Advisor to the President on Foreign Relations has said that the repatriation of Sri Lankans stranded due to the global pandemic will continue focusing on bringing stranded Sri Lankans from ASEAN countries.

The government earlier repatriated students stranded in South Asian counties and last two day brought back the students and other state officials stranded in the UK, US and Canada on board flights from London.

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