Fourth group of Sri Lankans repatriated from Lebanon

• Returnees include 70 undocumented workers 
• Fines waived by Lebanese Govt. following negotiations

The fourth group of 271 Sri Lankans was repatriated from Lebanon, which included 70 undocumented expatriates whose fines were waived off by the Lebanese Government, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement yesterday.  

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Lebanon, in collaboration with the Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka, Foreign Ministry and SriLankan Airlines repatriated a group of 271 Sri Lankans by SriLankan Airlines charter flight (UL 554) on 21 December 2020.

This was assisted by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Labour, Directorate of General Security (Immigration Department) and Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut.

Upon negotiations, the Lebanese Government waived off the fine for 70 undocumented Sri Lankan expatriates for visa overstay.

Ambassador Shani Calyaneratne Karunaratne and all Embassy staff facilitated the repatriation process at the Raffc Hariri Airport on 21 December 2020.