Lankan students in India, Pakistan to return today

(FASTNEWS | COVID-19) – The first batch of Sri Lankan students who have gone for studies and are now stranded in India and Pakistan will arrive the country today (21).

Industrial Exports and Investment Promotion, Tourism and Aviation Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said yesterday that arrangements have been made to bring back around 100 Sri Lankan students stranded in hostels of universities in Pakistan and India due to the lockdown and flight cancellations.

A Special SriLankan Airlines flight (UL1208) will head to Karachi and then to Lahore to bring back stranded Sri Lankan students and all these students will be directed to the quarantine centers in compliance with the instructions of the Ministry of Health after comeback to the BIA.

Minister Ranatunga made these remarks commenting to the media following an observational tour at the Katunayake, Bandaranaike International airport yesterday.

All students must have their body temperatures checked before entering the passenger terminal and they will be handed over to the security forces to be headed to quarantine centers after completion of immigration process, Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd Chairman General G A Chandrasiri said.He urges the family members and relatives of these students to refrain from gathering at the airport to see them as no outsiders or non-departing passengers are allowed to visit the airport under any circumstances.