By Munza Mushtaq – Reporting from Colombo for Asian Tribune
Colombo, 21 July, (Asiantribune.com): The Sri Lankan Government has taken steps to repatriate their nationals from Lebanon due to the escalation in violence there. Accordingly the Foreign Ministry and the Sri Lankan Bureau of Foreign Employment will send special airliner courtesy Sri Lankan airlines, to evacuate the affected Sri Lankans. This special flight is expected to leave Colombo today, sources said.
Meanwhile the Government with the coordination of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Beirut has arranged all relief measures for the affected workers due to the present conflict prevailing in Lebanon.
It is estimated that there are some 80,000 Sri Lankans working in Lebanon and the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment along with the Embassy in Beirut has set up 24-hour telephone hotlines, with the intentions of assisting the affected and relaying the latest information to the relatives at home about their loved ones.
The Sri Lankan Government has also issued a travel ban in context of the latest situation in Lebanon. "For the time being the advice is for Sri Lankan nationals to avoid travel to Lebanon. If the need arises assistance will be obtained from the international organizations such as IOM and concerned governments with whom the Sri Lankan Government is in touch through diplomatic channels for those who wish to return," the Ministry said in a statement.
- Asian Tribune -
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