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The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Bangkok successfully organized the repatriation of a group of Sri Lankans who have been stranded in Cambodia since March 2020, due to the closure of airports and cessation of passenger flights to Sri Lanka due to the COVID 19 pandemic. The group included 16 passengers who were on short term visas, employees and those on humanitarian needs.
The repatriation of this 16 Sri Lankans was made possible due to the transit permission granted at the Changi International Airport, by the Singaporean authorities, and the group flew from Phnom Penh, Cambodia by Silk Air charter flight MI601 on 8 August 2020, and got onboard the Sri SriLankan Airlines cargo flight UL 303, bound for Colombo on 9 August 2020, on special permission granted by the Sri Lankan COVID Task Force.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Bangkok expresses its deep gratitude to the Sri Lanka High Commission in Singapore for coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore to obtain necessary approvals for the transit via Singapore. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore and Changi International Airport authorities also provided hospitality including meals and other necessary services during the overnight transit for these passengers. The Embassy also extends appreciations to Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, The Covid-19 task force of the Presidential Secretariat, Civil Aviation Authority and Sri Lanka Army for granting necessary approvals and other logistical arrangements for this repatriation.
The Embassy further wishes to thank Mr. Melvin Tan, General Manager-Cambodia of the Silk Air management and the SriLankan Airlines management and staff; specially to Mr. Mohan Meegolle, Srilankan Airlines Regional Manager in Singapore and Mr. Riza Yusoof, SriLankan Airlines Manager – Thailand, Sri Lankan Airlines crew of UL 303 for undertaking a successful repatriation.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka
Bangkok, Thailand
09 August 2020