117 Indian nationals repatriated

Saturday, 4 July 2020 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A group of Indian nationals readying to board the repatriation flight to Chennai yesterday

Two more flights this month to return Indians home on priority basis

A total of 117 Indian nationals stranded in Sri Lanka were repatriated on a special Air India (AI 0274) flight from Colombo to Chennai yesterday, according to the Indian High Commission.

The flight was scheduled as part of Phase IV of the ‘Vande Bharat Mission’ – a Government of India initiative to undertake the largest ever repatriation of Indian nationals stranded abroad due to the COVID-19 pandemic, back to India.

The next special repatriation flight from Sri Lanka under the ‘Vande Bharat Mission’ are AI 0282 from Colombo to Delhi on 8 July and AI 0282 from Colombo to Delhi on 18 July. Based on the registrations received by the High Commission of India, a passenger manifest will be prepared for these flights. Priority will be given to compelling cases in distress including; migrant workers and labourers who have been laid off, short term visa holders faced with expiry of visa, people with medical emergency, pregnant women, elderly, those required to return to India due to death of family member and students, as stated in the Standard Operating Procedure issued by Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.

The Indian nationals who were stranded in Sri Lanka due to restrictions on international travel because of the COVID-19 pandemic have expressed their happiness at the opportunity to return home. Over 1600 Indian nationals have been repatriated from Sri Lanka so far, including this flight through three special Air India Flights on 29 May, 15 June and 22 June, Indian Naval Ship Jalashwa which made a voyage from Colombo to Tuticorin on 1 June and through various charter flights.

Those stranded Indian nationals who have not yet registered with the High Commission may do so on the following link -https://hcicolombo.gov.in/COVID_helpline. The embassy urged all stranded Indian nationals to follow updates on High Commission’s website and social media.