Sri Lanka's Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage says that despite the worsening global situation triggered by the Covid pandemic, the process of repatriating Sri Lankans stranded overseas, one of the most pressing at present, will continue under the directive of Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

He said the repatriation process is led by the Foreign Ministry enduring insurmountable challenges overseas amid lockdowns, isolations, curfews and closure of air space, to ensure swift return of Sri Lankans who are in distress.

Since the evacuation of 33 students from Wuhan City, in February 2019, the Ministry has been carrying out the task of repatriation for almost a year now and to date 60,470 Sri Lankans, comprising pilgrims, students, Officials of Government or Armed Forces, migrant workers, short term visitors, sea farers and cases on compassionate grounds have been repatriated from 137 countries by the Ministry through the Sri Lanka Missions overseas.

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