Indian Government to repatriate stranded Indians from Sri Lanka on Friday

Colombo (News 1st); The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka announced Air India flight 0276 will leave Colombo to Mumbai on Friday as part of the Indian Government's ‘Vande Bharat Mission’ to evacuate stranded Indian nationals across the world to India.

Based on the registrations received by the High Commission of India, a passenger manifest will be prepared for this flight.

The Indian High Commission said Priority will be given to compelling cases in distress, including migrant workers/labourers who have been laid off, short term visa holders faced with expiry of visa, people with medical emergency/ pregnant women/elderly, those required to return to India due to death of a family member, and students as stated in the Standard Operating Procedure issued by Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, for movement of Stranded Indian Nationals dated 05 May, 2020.

As the High Commission of India, Colombo has received a large number of repatriation requests from Indian nationals stranded in Sri Lanka, only some of the registered people would be accommodated on this flight.

A statement said passengers will bear the cost of travel by this flight as well as for mandatory quarantine facilities on arrival in India.