Stranded Lankans return home safely

Saturday, 11 April 2015 01:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A batch of 29 Sri Lankans stranded in Yemen returned to the country earlier this week. Deputy Foreign Minister Ajith Perera, after welcoming the Sri Lankans at the Bandaranaike International Airport, praised the support provided by the Chinese Government to bring back the Sri Lankans and said the return of these citizens was a major victory for the Government. The Deputy Minister, speaking to those who had returned home, said they were fortunate to have received an opportunity to return to Sri Lanka. They recalled the difficulties they faced in Yemen and expressed their gratitude to the Sri Lankan Government for the measures taken to bring them back. Minister of Foreign Employment Thalatha Athukorala, who was also present at the Airport, said that it was the responsibility of her ministry to look into the welfare and safety of all Sri Lankans employed overseas and added that the Government was “extremely happy” that the citizens had returned home before the April holidays.Sri Lankans who had been evacuated to Djibouti from Yemen are expected to return to the island nation on Friday, completing the Government’s evacuation efforts. Pix by Deepa Adikari and Kumarasiri Prasad