Govt. working to repatriate 33 stranded Sri Lankans

Despite forex shortage, no moves to sign MCC: Cabinet Spokesman

 The Government yesterday said that it is working to repatriate 33 Sri Lankans stranded at several airports around the world. Addressing the press, co-Cabinet Spokesman and Plantations Minister Ramesh Pathirana said that the Government was drawing up plans to repatriate 33 Sri Lankans stranded at a number of airports around the world. “We will announce our plans to repatriate these Sri Lankans, as soon as the situation in Sri Lanka improves,” he said.

Pathirana said that the Government was working closely with international stakeholders and experts on the advice of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Responding to a question on the urgent need for foreign currency and the availability of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant, co-Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardana said agreeing to the MCC was not suitable, as Governments must act according to the Constitution and the recommendations of the panel of experts appointed to analyse it.