- On 28 March, 2020
MEDIA RELEASE
Update on Sri Lankan nationals in Nepal
The Sri Lanka Embassy is in contact with students and other Sri Lankan nationals in Nepal, to ensure they are in a safe and protected environment and have access to food and other necessities during the nationwide lockdown declared by the Government of Nepal due to the COVID 19 pandemic.
A total of 90 students in Pokhara and Kathmandu, as well as 04 adults who are in Nepal on short term visits and were unable to return due to disruption in international travel, have requested assistance to return to Sri Lanka as of now. The Embassy appreciates the assurances given to it by the respective academic institutions where the Sri Lankan students are enrolled, that hostel, canteen and medical facilities continue to be available to the students.
Attention is drawn to the request by the Government of Sri Lanka to Sri Lankan expatriates on 27th March 2020, to remain in their current locations until the risk of the COVID 19 virus is minimized in Sri Lanka. International arrivals have been stopped by the Government in order to prevent the virus from coming into the country and spreading. However, the Government has assured that the requests for return by Sri Lankans will be considered once the spread of the virus is contained in the Island.
The Embassy wishes to assure those Sri Lankans who wish to return that their request has been duly processed and the Embassy remains in touch with the Sri Lankan authorities in that regard. The Embassy will take all necessary measures to coordinate the return no sooner a decision is taken by the Sri Lankan Government regarding evacuation.
Embassy officials maintain regular contact with the Sri Lankans to ensure they are able to stay in their current locations in a safe environment, in compliance with local regulations. The Embassy will also intervene with Nepali authorities regarding extension of visas as required.
Sri Lankans in Nepal are further invited to register voluntarily on the online web portal "Contact Sri Lanka" launched by the Ministry of Foreign Relations in Colombo on 27th March 2020, whereby the Government of Sri Lanka can reach out and provide assistance during emergencies such as the COVID19 outbreak. The web portal, jointly created by the Ministry of Foreign Relations and Information & Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA), is hosted on the Ministry web page www.mfa.gov.lk and can also be accessed at www.contactsrilanka.mfa.
A total of 90 students in Pokhara and Kathmandu, as well as 04 adults who are in Nepal on short term visits and were unable to return due to disruption in international travel, have requested assistance to return to Sri Lanka as of now. The Embassy appreciates the assurances given to it by the respective academic institutions where the Sri Lankan students are enrolled, that hostel, canteen and medical facilities continue to be available to the students.
Attention is drawn to the request by the Government of Sri Lanka to Sri Lankan expatriates on 27th March 2020, to remain in their current locations until the risk of the COVID 19 virus is minimized in Sri Lanka. International arrivals have been stopped by the Government in order to prevent the virus from coming into the country and spreading. However, the Government has assured that the requests for return by Sri Lankans will be considered once the spread of the virus is contained in the Island.
The Embassy wishes to assure those Sri Lankans who wish to return that their request has been duly processed and the Embassy remains in touch with the Sri Lankan authorities in that regard. The Embassy will take all necessary measures to coordinate the return no sooner a decision is taken by the Sri Lankan Government regarding evacuation.
Embassy officials maintain regular contact with the Sri Lankans to ensure they are able to stay in their current locations in a safe environment, in compliance with local regulations. The Embassy will also intervene with Nepali authorities regarding extension of visas as required.
Sri Lankans in Nepal are further invited to register voluntarily on the online web portal "Contact Sri Lanka" launched by the Ministry of Foreign Relations in Colombo on 27th March 2020, whereby the Government of Sri Lanka can reach out and provide assistance during emergencies such as the COVID19 outbreak. The web portal, jointly created by the Ministry of Foreign Relations and Information & Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA), is hosted on the Ministry web page www.mfa.gov.lk and can also be accessed at www.contactsrilanka.mfa.
Sri Lanka Embassy in Nepal
Kathmandu
28 March 2020