SL adopts wait-and-see policy on Qatar

A special report on the situation in Qatar will be presented to the Cabinet by freshly-minted Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake next week as Sri Lanka adopts a wait-and-see policy on possible repercussions due to tensions in the Gulf region. 

In the meantime, Sri Lanka missions in the Gulf have been kept on high alert to monitor the security situation and provide regular updates to the Foreign Ministry, the Cabinet update presented by Karunanayake said. 

“The Ministry suggests improving air connectivity with these countries, adding more connections to and from Colombo by SriLankan Airlines to mitigate the effects of the break off of air connectivity between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt and Yemen. 

In this regard the bilateral air services agreement with Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain needs to be fully implemented allowing for SriLankan Airlines to augment its flight connections to these countries,” the Cabinet paper said. 

Currently, the Foreign Ministry estimates that 150,000 Sri Lankans work in Qatar but there have been no reports of their security being threatened. 

“We hope that over the next few weeks this issue will be peacefully resolved, negating the need for any action on our part. It may even be addressed by next week,” said Cabinet spokesman Dayasiri Jayasekera.