The Government expects to repatriate nearly 2500 Sri Lankans who were stranded overseas due to the coronavirus pandemic, from today until 09 January 2021.

List of scheduled repatriation flights:

30 December: 305 from United Arab Emirates
31 December: 290 from Chennai
01 January: 290 from Australia
03 January: 340 from Kuwait
05 January: 100 from Canada, 290 from Qatar and Romainia
07 January: 260 from Cryprus
08 January: 290 from Australia
09 January: 290 from United Arab Emirates

Minister Namal Rajapaksa said all those who are repatriated will be subject to PCR tests upon arrival at the Katunayake Airport and will be sent to the quarantine centers guided by the Army, to undergo the mandatory 14 -day quarantine period.

He said according to official figures, Sri Lanka has repatriated 59,377 Sri Lankans from 137 countries to date.

Nearly 26,812 Sri Lankans have been repatriated from the Middle East, 12,005 from East Asia, 10,033 from South Asia, 5,484 from UK and Europe, 2026 from the African region, 2,124 from North America, 1,605 from Russia, and 189 Sri Lankans have been repatriated from Latin America.

Rajapaksa further said in December alone, 11,323 Sri Lankans were repatriated and by the end of December.

The Government expects these figures to go up to 12,395 which is the highest number to be repatriated for a month with an average of 400 Sri Lankans being repatriated daily.

Minister Namal Rajapaksa added that the Government is continuing with their biggest priority, which is the safe return of Sri Lankan citizens, including migrant workers, stranded overseas.