COLOMBO, April 2020: The Ministry of Foreign Relations, sensitive to the concerns of the overseas Sri Lankans amidst the rapid spread of the COVID-19 and their inability to return to Sri Lanka, has held consultations with its Heads of Missions based in 67 cities across the world, to facilitate the wellbeing and safety of overseas Sri Lankans, while preparing for any exigencies in the coming days.
In a series of tele-conferences led by Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha with Heads of diplomatic missions in South Asia, Middle East, South East Asia & East Asia, Africa & Latin America, as well as North America & Europe, issues that demanded attention in respect of overseas Sri Lankans were discussed, in keeping with the Government’s policy directives, on the COVID -19 pandemic. Director General, East Asia, Kandeepan Balasubramaniam, Additional Secretaries, respective territorial DGs and relevant functional DGs of the Ministry were associated in the discussions. The Acting General Manager of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), W.M.V. Wansekara, also attended some of the consultations which focused on countries that have significant Sri Lankan migrant populations. Overall, all Sri Lanka missions, even though mostly in ‘work from home’ mode, have been constantly interacting with the student communities and migrant workers in their respective stations and have established 24-hour emergency hotlines providing easy access to mission staff. While the missions are in the process of updating databases of Sri Lankans in their respective stations, social media platforms are also being used to maintain and enhance links by which information could be shared. The Sri Lanka missions in these regions have assured the community members and students studying overseas that requests for returning to Sri Lanka will be considered once the spread of the virus is contained in the country.
Sri Lanka missions in the Middle East, as well as South East Asia, East Asia, Africa and Southern Europe, which host the largest concentration of Sri Lankan expatriate workers, informed of their efforts to constantly network with Sri Lankans overseas and the community representatives, assisting them in matters concerning emergency passports, visa extensions, and employment contracts, by discussing with the respective local authorities and intervening and seeking clearances, as required.
Highlighting the need to assist this important segment of migrant labour, one of the largest contributors to Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange, the Ministry stressed that the missions and the SLBFE should also look after and facilitate the wellbeing of Sri Lankans without valid visas, unemployed and also those not registered with the SLBFE. It was noted that some Sri Lanka missions have liaised with local charities that support people who are unemployed, recruiting agencies, other community organisations, International organisations such as IOM and Caritas, to render assistance to Sri Lankans until such time they can be safely repatriated back to Sri Lanka. The declaration of amnesty periods by some Middle Eastern countries and the
ramifications of such action, were also discussed during the tele conferences.
With respect to Sri Lankan students enrolled across the globe, most missions, including those in the West, reported having close contact with the University administrations and the student communities, to make certain that the students have continued access to their accommodation in hostels, access to food and medical facilities.
The Missions have also been striving to secure visa extensions for students, as well as others residents and those visiting abroad, whose visas will lapse soon. This concession was granted to over 15,000 foreigners visiting Sri Lanka until 12 May, due to various travel restrictions caused by the pandemic.
On the economic front, the Ministry, through its networ of missions, and in collaboration with the Export Development Board (EDB) is in the process of facilitating Sri Lankan exporters at this volatile time period to re-position themselves in the long run. In this respect, the missions are assisting the EDB to obtain market information, as well as addressing issues relevant to supply chain constraints in our key export source markets. This also includes seeking new opportunities for Sri Lanka for existing products, as well as requirements related to the COVID 19 situation.
The Ministry also took note of the positive action by some missions in collaborating with the Sri Lankan Health authorities, to coordinate procurement of urgently needed medicines and medical equipment at a government-to-government level. Sri Lanka’s mssions were further requested to look for opportunities to obtain test kits and necessary medical equipment in consultation with the Ministry of Health, to help mitigate the spread of the virus in Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, the new ‘ Contact Sri Lanka’ online portal launched by the Ministry of Foreign Relations on 26 March 2020, has to date seen 45,770 Sri Lankans living abroad register, a bulk of them from the Middle East. It is noteworthy that 1955 queries have also been directed to the portal, and been answered. The web portal is a direct interface for all overseas Sri Lankans to voice their views and concerns to the Ministry and the missions, and has been jointly created by the Foreign Ministry and Information & Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA). The web portal is hosted on the Ministry website www.mfa.gov.lk and also can be accessed at www.contactsrilanka.mfa.gov.lk.
