First Group of Sri Lankan Migrant Workers repatriated from Beirut

A group of 165 persons including children, inmates of the safe house, pregnant women and Sri Lankans who lost their jobs were repatriated yesterday on a charter flight UL 1506, Sri Lankan Embassy in Lebanon said.

The entire operation was conducted by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Lebanon in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Relations of Sri Lanka, the Presidential Secretariat. The national carrier, the Sri Lankan Airlines provided the charter flight for this purpose.

In this endeavour, the Lebanese government extended their fullest cooperation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Public Health, Directorate of General Security and Lebanese Directorate of Civil Aviation, Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut offered commendable assistance to streamline the process.

On the recommendation of the Lebanese Minister of Labour a cabinet decision was taken and the Ministry of Public Health conducted PCR tests free of charge with the facilitating efforts of Amel Association International, IOM, WHO in Beirut. In addition to PCR testing, a thorough medical scrutiny by an internationally qualified medical team from Bshamoun Specialty Hospital was done in order to ascertain returnees’ fitness to travel.

Upon the request of the Embassy, in a record gesture, the Lebanese government waived off the conditional pardon fine for 78 undocumented Sri Lankan expatriates who were in Lebanon for extended period of time and the fine paid by them to the Directorate of General Security was refunded prior to leaving Beirut.