Sri Lankans overseas urged not to return

Sri Lankans residing overseas have been urged not to return to Sri Lanka until the coronavirus threat is over, the President’s office said.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission is in the process of compiling details of Sri Lankan students in South India and working on ensuring their safety and welfare.

There are around 600 Sri Lankan students all over India dispersed throughout various States. In Southern India alone 191 students have registered themselves at the Mission.

The Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission is in touch with the students and respective institutions to ensure their welfare and has advised all students to stay indoors and remain safe with all precautionary measures. The Mission constantly monitors their situation and is committed to assist and ensure the safety and welfare of the students.

Further, the? Ministry of Foreign Relations of Sri Lanka launched? ?Contact Sri Lanka? a web portal welcoming Sri Lankans living abroad to voluntarily? register at www.contactsrilanka.mfa.gov.lk. Registering online in the web portal? will allow? the Ministry? of Foreign Relations ?to reach out? during? emergencies? such as? the??COVID-19?outbreak.

This portal will connect Overseas Sri Lankans with stakeholders in Sri Lanka? and a network of Sri Lanka Missions overseas.

A dedicated team of? officials? have already been assigned? by the? Ministry of Foreign Relations? to respond? to queries? of Overseas Sri Lankans? and? also to act ?as an online help desk during emergencies.?

Registration by country will also? allow? the Ministry? ?of Foreign Relations to propose? concrete? policy? decisions? to critical? response? situations,??which include evacuation depending on the? number? of emergency? assistance? requests generated. Therefore, Sri Lankans living abroad are invited to benefit from this portal. (Colombo Gazette)