Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha has outlined the role and preparations of the Ministry of Foreign Relations and its missions across the world, in helping Sri Lanka tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and addressing concerns of Sri Lankan nationals overseas. Referring to Sri Lankan citizens abroad, he said “parents here in Sri Lanka, should rest a little bit more comfortably about their children, knowing that the Embassy is a phone call away and if there are issues on the ground, that our Missions abroad will deal with it” and that “if there is a real calamity, the Government of Sri Lanka will step in”. He said while dealing with the immediate concerns at hand, the Ministry and Missions are working hard “to anticipate and prepare for any difficulties ahead, and to further map out what we do the day after this problem is solved, particularly on the economic front”.

The Foreign Secretary made these observations, in a wide-ranging interview with Indeewari Amuwatte, on the ‘Hyde Park’ programme of Ada Derana 24, on 4 April 2020.

Full interview is at : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY1eD5c__h4

Below is the transcript of Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha’s interview with Indeewari Amuwatte on ‘Hyde Park’ on Ada Derana 24 on 4th April 2020 (Pl. note that some comments have been re-clustered under relevant headings)

INITIAL CHALLENGE IN HANDLING COVIND-19 OUTBREAK IN CHINA

IA: As Sri Lanka combats to eliminate the health crisis of the COVID 19 pandemic along with the rest of the countries across the globe, we thought of speaking to Foreign Secretary of Sri Lanka whose Missions across the countries of the world have been in the forefront of dealing with expatriate issues. A warm welcome to you Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha Sri Lanka’s Foreign Secretary who was formerly Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Foreign Secretary, let’s start off talking about the work of the Sri Lankan Missions overseas since the start of this crisis. The Foreign Ministry had to be at the epicenter of where the virus began -Wuhan, and the influx of concerns of Sri Lankans citizens there.  Since then we have come a long way from evacuation of 30 students to setting up ‘Contact Sri Lanka’.  What is the latest update that you can share with us? 

SFR:    There have been many phases of the Foreign Ministry’s involvement in this issue. Our three Missions in China, had to deal with something which we did not know the length and breadth of and how it manifested itself.  We were all dealing with a problem which we didn’t even understand. In fact, I last week asked my colleagues in China –  the Actg. Ambassador in Beijing and Consul Generals in Shanghai and Guangzhou to write a list of ‘dos and don’ts’ – what you tell people when they come to you, how you give hope, how you help – and I circulated it to all our Missions and to all my staff, because I think that those three guys and their staff behind them, were true heroes of dealing with overseas Sri Lankans. That’s part of the Foreign Mission’s routine mandate, but I think that the magnitude and the scale of this operation has pushed us to points which we have never experienced before. Certain aspects we have experienced in regions, but this we are experiencing simultaneously across the globe today.

So from getting students from Wuhan by a Charter Flight – and that is the only Charter Flight which has been flown especially to do this so far, to facilitating others from China to return, to repatriating a large number of pilgrims who were in India through Commercial Flights – no charter Flights were used in India – to then dealing with each pocket of development in the various countries, our Missions have been in the forefront.

Our Missions have had to do two set of things, one has primarily been dealing with an immediate problem, two to anticipate where this could go.  Because I don’t think any of us quite know.

CHALLENGES FACED BY MISSIONS ABROAD IN OTHER REGIONS

IA: It has moved to Europe now.

SFR:    Exactly. We have to be ready to face it wherever it is, and our Missions spread across the globe are on the frontline of this action. My job through our bureaucracy and under our Hon. Minister and the directives of the President, Prime Minister and the Government, is to prepare our Missions to deal with this. I am sure that as much as we say so, there is never enough preparation, and all we can do is to have a good check on things.

Over the last two days we had tele-conferences with all our Missions in five groups because the requirements in each place are different. In South Asia the focus is largely on students, with some people working in factories and Sri Lankans exporters in Bangladesh being a particular pocket. Middle East is a whole other ball game – because there you have more than million or even 1.5 million of Sri Lankan expatriate working force.  Some are in houses, some are outside, some are registered with the Foreign Employment Bureau, some are not. So you have lots of issues which are not just Corona related, but are fundamentally vulnerabilities of a Sri Lankan who is not so well to do, who is dependent on an home employer or a factory out there. Then when you go to countries like Malaysia, you find both – about hundreds of students, but also 20,000 workers as well.  Then you can talk about Australia and the western countries where there are large student populations and others, who are holding Sri Lankan citizenship.

‘CONTACT SRI LANKA’ WEB PORTAL

It is to take stock of this totality that we launched a web portal. Because while we have data collected already – our estimate right now is that we have about 2.6 million Sri Lankans abroad – we need to be clearer on this and have some hard data to be available, particularly in this context, and to be of assistance to these communities.

IA: Contact Sri Lanka the online web portal was launched on 26th of March.  To date is has 45,770  Sri Lankans living abroad registered on this portal and I think we need to invite more and more Sri Lankans living overseas to register on this web portal because this is for the Foreign Ministry to be in touch with our Sri Lankans living overseas.

As you know Contact Sri Lanka is a joint exercise we did with ICTA and we have very good cooperation and collaboration that was put up in less than a week. For example, at 12.53 on that site somebody has said that they were having a problem with their stipend somewhere in Southern India, Bangalore. It reached me by about 2.30.  I put it to my Actg. High Commissioner in New Delhi by 3.30, and by 6.00 clock we had fixed the problem, and he had contacted the Foreign Office which was dealing with the stipend issue and there was an understanding that the stipends will be paid a little in advance and this problem was sorted.  Yesterday, there was a problem of somebody stuck on the border trying to cross from Thailand to Laos. Within a few hours we were able to get them to talk to our Ambassador in Thailand and who is also concurrently accredited to Laos and we were able to get that sorted.

IA: Lot of resources put together to address the concerns of the Sri Lankans.

CONCERNS OVER HOST COUNTRY POLICIES

IA: As more and more Sri Lankans overseas are wondering when they can return to Sri Lanka amid this global pandemic, cities and countries across the world put all their resources to combat this health crisis in the form of COVID 19, the Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka issued a statement very recently requesting all Sri Lankan expatriates to remain in the current locations until the risk of COVID 19 is minimized and also Foreign Secretary, you assured that request for return to Sri Lanka will be considered once the spread of the virus is contained in the country.   This was one of your very latest media releases.  But in a turn of events, Prime Minister of Australia yesterday at a press briefing announced that it is time for temporary visa holders to make their way back home. He said if they are not in a position to support themselves, then there is the alternative for them to return to their home countries. Something very strong I see is that as much as it is lovely to have visitors to Australia in good times at times like this, if you are visitor in this country, it is time as it has been for some while and  I know that many visitors have to make their way  back home.  Have you tried to speak to the High Commission here and your Mission abroad in Australia?  What does this mean? This affect many Sri Lankan in Australia. Who are these temporary visa holders they are referring to?

SFR:    Frankly I was taken aback when I heard that comment. We are a country who had over 30,000 tourists two or three weeks ago when we closed or limited arrivals. Half of them are still in this country and we are looking after them.  Many of them are staying in this country because they feel that we will handle this in some systematic way.  Also, it is a sentiment of confidence to our tourist industry that we not only look after ourselves but we look after our visitors through thick and thin. There were some points where I think some concerns and that was very immediately dealt with by both the political leadership as well as the bureaus which are dealing with tourism.

It is in that context that this was a little surprising. But before I came here, I spoke to David Holly, High Commissioner for Australia, and he has re-assured that this was not, and I repeat, not meant for students. The idea in the Australian comments was essentially about visitors, which was tourists, and what they were trying to say is that they were encouraging those who were there on short term visas to get back home. That is each country’s decision.

IA: Foreign Secretary, Sri Lanka being a small nation, you are intervening in negotiations with other missions in other countries through the Sri Lankan Missions to extend visas of Sri Lankans who are in other countries on temporary visas. At the same time these countries, you would be reaching out to Australia I presume.   But a statement like this because this is a global pandemic and we have shut our Airports down. Is it ethical for a nation to request nationals of other countries to leave?   Because yes at good times you have the Foreign exchange coming in but at bad times too you have to stick together? 

SFR:    It is above my pay scale to answer that question. But all I can say is I think that different countries have to deal with it in different ways. We have about 12,000 Sri Lankan students living in Australia and I understand they have 586,000 foreign students altogether, that is more than a million from all over the world in Australia. Students are a big industry to the Universities and the Australian economy, so I was rather surprised by this comment as I said.

I think we have to leave each country to decide on how they deal with this problem in a manner which is reasonable, which does not unduly inconvenience people. Sri Lanka did not do it in a negotiated way – we were one of the earliest countries to extend visas of all those who are in this country, foreign visitors or any category of visa holders till the 15th of April and then last week we extended it to the 12th of May. But I emphasize, I think we must leave each country to make their call, and many countries as I know have responded to our appeal, people who out their on-visit visas have been told to contact the nearest visa Post. Our Embassies are working with those Foreign Ministries and making that information known to Sri Lankan citizens abroad.

IA: But if Australia does not change their stance on this and they request and encourage visitors to travel home, what will be the measures taken by the Foreign Ministry, especially we have a large number of Sri Lankan visitors there too on temporary visa.  What will we do?

SFR:    I think we have to really look at the numbers and movements. The Australians will have to tell us that, because they are the ones who have issued the visas for them to go.  There must be many parents visiting children and children visiting parents – Whether they come under this categorization of those “who don’t have means”. So there might be some room there. I guess this really applies to somebody who is on a very short visa, short visit. Let us discuss with the Australians. I am sure that there are certain norms and processes, but I can very firmly assure you that this does not apply to students – which I think was the scare this morning when we heard about it. I think parents with children out, are in any case very concerned for the last two weeks.

SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS AND OVERSEAS SRI LANKANS

SFR: There have been many parents who have spoken to me, and I personally try to spend time whenever I am being spoken to directly, because I understand the worry of the parents. We would all love, particularly in a situation like this, to have our kids with us. But when you face crisis like these, you have to balance interests and try to safeguard everybody.  Maybe children who are sitting in a hostel out there are safer sitting there, than actually trying to scramble back, even if the airport was opened and even if the flights were there. Trying to come through international airports and public transport at this time, could unnecessarily expose you to Covid-19. We saw that latest story of how that one gentleman got the disease, that he was caught in the midst of those who came from Italy. All of us today are sitting here quite well and who knows what will happen tomorrow? In our culture, we are attuned to understanding that reality. But governments have to try to find solutions in a whole of Government sense, taking competing interests in to account, and eventually prioritizing.

IA: Sri Lankan students for instance, you say that number of them are and it is better for them to remain there until this situation is under control.  But what is their food and sanitation and other requirements.  At what level are you connect to them?  Yes, through the Missions but there may be those who are not reachable at this time because the Universities are under locked down or certain countries shut down and emergency services in place.  Let’s talk a little bit about the challenges that Foreign Ministry face.

SFR:    That depends from country to country and also the cultures of those countries.  Now my sense is that pretty much in South Asia and probably South East Asia as well, that we have a pretty good idea of students, and by and large their basics are met. But there must be many anxious parents watching this. I am sure that children are anxious too. I don’t know whether children are more anxious or parents are more anxious.  Probably parents are more anxious than the children.  And I think you reinforce that anxiety on each other. That should be avoided. We must all remain strong, in order to survive this.

My advice to my colleagues, is don’t give expectations you can’t fulfill. It’s much better to be sensitive to concerns, and try to respond to real issues, rather than just to please, giving people false hope at a time like this. Now just this simple announcement clarifying what the situation on the ground was, and the reluctant but definite decision the government took that to not bring back folks, I think that calmed things down to some extent. Our Missions which earlier had to be on the one hand answering questions “why aren’t you sending our kids back” or “why aren’t you sending the workers back”, which was beyond us, have now to deal with a more direct problem – which is “how do you look after them where they are”.  I think that clarifies matters. I am satisfied of the efforts of most of our Missions –  again not all in the same way because there the resources are different, the circumstances are different. These are not problems you can resolve by waving a a magic wand, but we are better prepared to do that.

At the same time Sri Lankan citizens abroad, while naturally being anxious, must know that if there is a real calamity, the Government of Sri Lanka will step in. They must have that confidence. Now at this point we feel that this is the right decision.  Down the road things can change. With that confidence I think we will succeed to the extent that each of us, as far as we can, go about our business, more carefully and more protected.

The parents here in Sri Lanka, should rest a little bit more comfortably about their children, knowing that the Embassy is a phone call away and that if there are any issues on the ground, that our Missions abroad will deal with it. This is not a Foreign Affairs issue alone.  This is a national issue.  We are good at dealing with difficult issues.

IA: Sri Lanka rushed to bring students as I mentioned at the beginning to bring back student from Wuhan and pilgrims as well as other students across the world where the need arose.

ECONOMIC PREPAREDNESS

IA: Moving away from the present challenges, to look at the future. Looking ahead, Sri Lanka and the rest of the world can’t be stuck in fighting this pandemic, but exports where there is foreign exchange coming in, we have certain challenges in the ongoing situation. In the economic front, through you Missions with the Export Development Board, you will be facilitating exporters during this volatile period. But imports, we have banned imports of non-essential items oil and other essential goods are permitted. We are looking at exports, we are looking at manufacturing status in Sri Lanka, improving exports so that we can earn foreign exchange to facilitate those essential imports to the country but what is the challenge at the moment that you are facing?

SFR:    I think that is a very serious question because, as we deal with today, we have to think of the day after. I think countries which are going to succeed in coming out of this are those which are able to do both.  I think it is equally important. In the Foreign Ministry our officers who are handling the Economic Division are focused essentially at this point, in trying to get together with the EDB, Tourist Board, BOI and other agencies on precisely this aspect.

Tea is a classic example.  This is a point where Sri Lanka’s tea might get a good market, because tea is seen as a good beverage in these times. One problem was that the tea auctions had stalled so exporting became difficult, but I am very happy that today we have electronically started the tea auctions. I think this is a good step. Now in Turkey I understand there is already some opportunity to increase our market.  Similarly, it would help if we can push the kinds of products on which we have a niche, which we have the production lines going on. Because one good thing which Sri Lanka has done is, while we have shut down a lot, tea estates I understand are working; agricultural production side is still working.  So, if we can keep those going at least we can ensure the supply.

The demand side of course is another matter.  Countries are compressing their orders because they are not quite sure when the Walmart is going to be open again. So that is the buyer.  But  I think both sides have to work. What we in Sri Lanka can do, is to try to make sure that our traditional supply lines are doing well.

Interestingly, some new products have also emerged from this, like protective gear. Apparently, we are manufacturing that now. We are manufacturing it for ourselves and there are some countries which are asking for samples. And we have already provided some samples of it. So, the niche we have in the garment manufacturing, if we can convert into this type of product as well, in future it will give us some openings.  And I think we have to do that, because countries like Vietnam are doing it very well in these circumstances.  So, if we are to stay ahead of that curve, while we are on the one hand fighting to keep the disease down, those who are in the productive sectors have to also keep the exports going.

Similarly, on tourism, as I told earlier the 15,000 who are continuing here will be the biggest advertisement Sri Lanka can provide to tourism in the future. I recently saw that guy who talked on BBC after visiting Sri Lanka a couple of days ago. That was an advertisement which money couldn’t pay for. How Sri Lanka takes care of them all, and how Sri Lanka is handling things themselves. So that gives a certain confidence to audiences out there.

Therefore, on the economic front we are at early stages, but we have to get the niche industries working.  This is a thought which must percolate right down to the worker in a factory.  He or she is not only working for one’s self, but they also are keeping the clock going in terms of production and manufacture. If factories close down, those who are on daily wages and irregular employment will lose their work, and create further complications for themselves, exports and the country.

IA: I like to go back to economic activity. As this is not your normal line of work but the Foreign Ministry is very important at this juncture.  Looking ahead, post pandemic situation right now Sri Lanka needs to be figuring out a way forward, and economic blue print to find out how we address the country’s need as a self-sustained Nation when we can’t import we have to look at manufacturing and you spoke of the areas where Sri Lanka has already ventured into and how tea might be the solution to Sri Lanka’s economic woes at the moment.  But specifically, what are the Missions doing right now to speak to these Nations because given these situations there might be other requirements for Sri Lanka to cater to, because we have the work force.

SFR:  Some income drop is going to happen.  We have to be realistic about it.

IA: Let’s talk about economic zones too.  What sort of a role will they play if we revive these economic zones?  

SFR:  I think it is important that we do that, as these are all signals to the outside world of our resilience. I don’t think in Vietnam they shut down any economic zones.  May be economic zones are not right in the center of everything, and therefore, it probably is easier.  If you are out there in a zone, you continue to work so long as you have your food and your space and all that.

So, I think these circumstances bring to all of us choices. In normal life if we can do everything and anything we want, when we have a little less money or a little less freedom due to something like this, we start adjusting to what we have. So may be in industry, we also must identify some target industries, which need to keep going to meet the demand.  Demand side is equally problematic.  You can produce all the garments you want, if there is nobody to buy them, what do you do?  I think you got to be on your toes and one thing our Missions are right now doing and we have asked them to, is to see what are the exports which are going to continue, what might be the ones in danger. Understanding that dichotomy is important for us and what the ones which might be futuristic because that’s the supply line we have to work.  There is also a problem about backward linkages. You can’t make garments without having the raw material and fittings, and the supply lines disrupted, as you might call it now. But
I understand now from China, cargo is coming, so that the backward linkages are being restored to a large extent.  I think we got to just focus on a few things and do them well.  We must also have confidence in each other. If we each do our job, we will pull through this together.  One must not try to do the other person’s job. If you do your job right, then I believe that society as a whole will be able to get through this. It’s a difficult patch we have been there before, and I am sure we will come out of this as well.

BILATERAL MUTUAL ASSISTANCE

IA: In this fight against COVID-19 there is a requirement of immediate medical supplier.  How is your team working coordinating with other countries in order to have Sri Lanka access to medical equipment, especially also drugs that we require?

SFR:    I think this is something from day-1 that has been done through the Missions.  The general process is that the Health Department would tell us they want something, and once we have their sanction, we would leverage with the relevant country and their authorities.  Some are very commercial transactions which are easy to do, some involve government.  Sometimes priority has to be given in some countries.  It is to the credit of all our Missions where this sourcing has been taking place, that we have been able to get stuff and get them on the next flight as you have seen things regularly coming in.  We also have to be very careful because we must not get stuff which is not essential at this point, with the drugs which are coming in and all there are lot of people trying to sell their wares.  But we must have some control and so we are not trying to get anything even if given free, which is not sanctioned and not authorized by the Health authorities, because they have to be the captain in telling us whether this is to be brought or not to be brought, because it comes from both sides.  There are new products as well, but our Ambassadors are on the ball on that and they are keeping us abreast of new developments, particularly the test kits. It’s a big debate on how fast the test is, but we are allowing Health to lead and tell us what they want and we will do what they want. That’s what how it’s going, and the COVID control operation is working with us on this from time to time. So, there is a good check and balance on how we are procuring material and medicines for them.

In terms of international assistance, we talk about the SAARC Fund, we talk about your Ministry and your Missions being in contact with Missions overseas who are in touch with them respective countries and foreign ministries and also China sending assistance.  If we look at the larger picture here how far are, we in calling for assistance and accepting these.  Especially, when most of these bigger Nations are also facing and are crippled in the face of this pandemic. 

SFR:    I think we are taking and we are giving as well.  In the SAARC Fund, we are putting down 5 million dollars, which all the SAARC countries can draw on – that’s giving.  There is a stock of tea on the way to UK to be given to the NHS, which could do with a cup of tea at this point when they are under a lot of pressure.  And I think we are trying to be generous and helpful in places we can.

We are at the same time receiving a lot of assistance as you can see the World Bank and IMF made some provisions available to us.  We also know that we are receiving assistance both from government sources as well as non-governmental sources. Sri Lankan communities out there are very worried about themselves, but in true Sri Lankan spirit these are the very people who also collecting stuff to be sent to Sri Lanka.  Yesterday, we had to in fact try to encourage some of them whether it is not more practical to send in money to the COVID-10 Presidential Fund, or to send material stuff which we have to freight and might take a little longer with all the cargo restrictions/ flight restrictions. These are all choices which we are making.

But besides these material stuff, there are also processual help we need. Back again to the Middle-East, where I really believe that we must be very conscious because that is where our biggest issue is, given that it is the largest overseas Sri Lankan population and a population which has funded a lot of tax payers giving a lot to this country through foreign exchange.  This is an occasion where they must not feel that we are not standing by them enough, and it is important that we stay with them.

IA:  What can we do?

SFR:    We are talking to organizations like the IOM and organizations like CARITAS to try and help some of these people who are out of jobs.  Some of them are illegal as I said. So, we have to find ways and means.  In fact, today I told someone in IOM, treat this as equal to the situation during the Gulf War. If this is a war, then you can’t sit back and say no, this is not in the book.  We have to find ways of getting rules for these things on our own at some point.

For now, where people are stuck in an airport and couldn’t come as airports were suddenly shut down, we have to look after those people, ahead of people who were on holiday, are with family and possibly have means, as we don’t have the capacity at this point to do all. Yes, we can share a meal but we have to anticipate that if this goes longer, there might be people out of jobs, there might be people who are citizens of Sri Lanka whose responsibility lies squarely and surely on Sri Lanka’s shoulders. And if they are not going to be welcomed in those countries, then we have to deal with that. We have to be prepared for that.

OVERSEAS SRI LANKAN COMMUNITY SUPPORT

IA: Communities, Sri Lankan Nationals overseas can now play a bigger role than they usually do in helping Sri Lanka, in mitigating effects of COVID-19, so how can we bring them together in this fight.  How do we interface with the rest of the world?  What is the way forward?

SFR:    I think right now there is a little bit of juggle between worrying for oneself and worrying about a larger cause. But as we all know, one way to deal with worrying about oneself, is to look at the larger cause. And I think in many places as I said there have been collections being made, equipment being procured. Ventilators for instance, yesterday in New York they were trying to send some ventilators to Sri Lanka and we wanted to match what they were trying to send and the system for the Health authorities.  Today we were told it is OK. So it will be sent on the next flight.  So, they are doing it and I think all we have to do is to encourage them to do more.  I would say sending funds at this time where transfers might be the quicker and easier thing to do. Similarly, we are also requesting friendly governments who might be inclined to help, to give us some financial support to get through this and also to give us some financial redress in rescheduling some of the loan payments. So all these exercises are happening.

So my sense is that time will tell how successful we are, but right now, what the Foreign Ministry can do, is to deal with the present situation, to anticipate and prepare for any difficulties ahead, and further map out what we do the day after this problem is solved, particularly on the economic front.

IA: Thank you very much. I would like to remind our viewers of something you said – that the Government will step in where necessary, but for our very own overseas Sri Lankans stay where you are, remain at your current locations and stay safe.  

Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena met with senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Relations today at the Ministry to discuss about the welfare of the Sri Lankan expatriate communities, difficulties currently being faced by these communities and ways to explore practical solutions to assist expatriate communities at this time of need.

Earlier this week, taking note of the growing concerns of the Overseas Sri Lankans amidst the rapid spread of COVID- 19 and their inability to immediately return to Sri Lanka, the Ministry had discussed with Sri Lanka Missions abroad ongoing and further measures to ensure the well being and safety of Overseas Sri Lankans.

In discussing issues of migrant workers, especially in the Middle Eastern countries, the Minister directed the senior officials of the Ministry to work closely with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) to find appropriate solutions to such issues.

Foreign Minister Gunawardena also highlighted the importance of maintaining economic and trade relations between Sri Lanka and other countries during this period. He advised the officials to take necessary actions to explore new markets for Sri Lankan products, especially for Tea and to consolidate existing markets for Sri Lankan products such as apparel.

Foreign Minister Gunawardena appreciated the services of senior officials of the Ministry, including staff of Sri Lankan Overseas Missions, and their dedication during this difficult period. Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha, Additional Secretaries, Directors General and other senior officials attended the meeting.

The Ministry of Foreign Relations, sensitive to the concerns of the OSLs amidst the rapid spread of the COVID-19 and the inability to return to Sri Lanka, has held consultations over the past 2 days 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 they could have to meet in the coming days.

In a series of tele-conferences led by Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha with Heads of Mission/Post in 5 regional clusters (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. The focal point of the Foreign Ministry on COVID -19 Action and DG/East Asia Mr. 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 Sri Lankan migrant receiving countries.

Overall, all Sri Lanka Missions, even though mostly in ‘work from home’ mode, have been constantly interacting with the student communities and the migrant workers in their respective stations and have established 24-hour emergency hotlines providing easy access to the 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 return of Sri Lankans 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 largest contributors  to  Sri Lanka’s  foreign  exchange, the Ministry stressed that  the  Missions and the SLBFE should  also look after and facilitate the well-being 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 organizations, International organizations 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 students 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 are lapsing. This concession was granted for over 15,000 foreigners visiting Sri Lanka  until 12  May, due to reasons caused by the pandemic.

On the economic front, the Ministry, through its Mission network, 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 network assists the EDB to obtain market information as well as address issues relevant to supply side constraints in our key export sourcing countries.  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 medicines and medical equipment urgently needed on a Government to Government basis. Missions 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 Web 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 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 link is hosted on the Ministry web page www.mfa.gov.lk and also can be accessed at www.contactsrilanka.mfa.gov.lk.

Ministry of Foreign Relations

Colombo

2 April 2020

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‘Contact Sri Lanka’ an online portal jointly created by the Ministry of Foreign Relations and Information & Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) for the benefit of Overseas Sri Lankans was launched today (26 March 2020) at the Ministry of Foreign Relations. The web link is hosted on the Ministry web page www.mfa.gov.lk and also can be accessed at www.contactsrilanka.mfa.gov.lk.

Establishment  of the portal, is pursuant to the call made by  President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for coordinated efforts by all Government stakeholders to fight the COVID-19 outbreak and to harness digital technology to prompt faster and more efficient service delivery.

All Sri Lankans living abroad are invited to register voluntarily on the platform’s basic functionalities allowing the Government of Sri Lanka to reach out and provide assistance during emergencies such as the COVID19 outbreak. This platform will allow the Ministry to access real time data for quick action. The open access platform would also facilitate Overseas Sri Lankans to interact between government stakeholders, promoting greater access to the Government services through a single centralized point at the Ministry of Foreign Relations. This Portal will also connect Overseas Sri Lankans with the network of Sri Lanka Missions abroad.

In the long term, the Portal will be expanded and is expected to serve as an official source of information and facilitate Overseas Sri Lankans in obtaining  a wider range of digital services offered by the Government.

A dedicated team of officials have already been assigned by the Ministry of Foreign Relations to respond to queries of Overseas Sri Lankans  and also to act as an online help desk, during emergencies in consultation with relevant stakeholders. Registration by country will also allow the Ministry to propose concrete policy decisions in critical response situations such as evacuation etc., depending on the number of emergency assistance requests generated.

For easy facilitation, the portal also includes a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) which will serve as a guideline for generic queries. This user friendly platform can be easily navigated via the internet, on any browser or interface and can be accessed by all  registered users to direct  a query or request assistance, even from a mobile phone.

The data provided through this portal is protected to ensure the  privacy of Overseas Sri Lankans and will not be shared  without the consent of the users.

The ICTA will be working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Relations in expanding the features of the portal in stages, to create a comprehensive online service platform for Overseas Sri Lankans, via the ‘Contact Sri Lanka’ Portal.

The Ministry of Foreign Relations, is hopeful that this integrated platform will elevate its existing service delivery for Overseas Sri Lankans to a higher level, particularly allowing rapid response in times of emergencies. All Sri Lankans living abroad are invited to benefit from this portal.

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මාධ්‍ය නිවේදනය

විදේශ අමාත්‍යාංශය, තොරතුරු හා සන්නිවේදන තාක්ෂණ නියෝජිතායතනයේ සහයෝගය ඇතිව, එතෙර සිටින ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයින් සඳහා ‘ශ්‍රී ලංකාව අමතන්න’ මාර්ගගත ද්වාරය දියත් කරයි

එතෙර සිටින ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයින්ගේ ප්‍රයෝජනය සඳහා ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ විදේශ සබඳතා අමාත්‍යාංශය හා තොරතුරු හා සන්නිවේදන තාක්‍ෂණ නියෝජිතායතනය (ICTA) එක්ව නිර්මාණය කරන ලද ‘ශ්‍රී ලංකාව අමතන්න’ මාර්ගගත ද්වාරය අද දින (2020 මාර්තු 26) විදේශ සබඳතා අමාත්‍යාංශයේ දී දියත් කරන ලදී. මෙම වෙබ් සම්බන්ධකතාව, මෙම අමාත්‍යාංශයේ www.mfa.gov.lk වෙබ් අඩවිය මතම සලසා දී ඇති අතර, www.contactsrilanka.mfa.gov.lk හරහා ද මෙම වෙබ් අඩවියට පිවිසිය හැකිය.

COVID-19 පැතිර යෑමට එරෙහිව සටන් කිරීමට සහ කඩිනම්, වේගවත් හා කාර්යක්ෂම සේවා සැපයුමක් සඳහා ඩිජිටල් තාක්‍ෂණය උපයෝගී කර ගැනීම පිණිස රජයේ සියලුම පාර්ශ්වකරුවන්ගේ ප්‍රයත්නයන් සම්බන්ධීකරණය කිරීමට ජනාධිපති ගෝඨාභය රාජපක්ෂ මැතිතුමා කළ ඉල්ලීමට අනුව මෙම මාර්ගගත ද්වාරය පිහිටුවීම සිදු කෙරේ.

COVID19 පැතිර යාම වැනි හදිසි අවස්ථාවන්හි දී ශ්‍රී ලංකා රජයට ඔවුන් වෙත ළඟා වීමට සහ ආධාර සැපයීමට ඉඩ සලසන මෙම වේදිකාවේ, මූලික ක්‍රියාකාරී කොටසෙහි ස්වේච්ඡාවෙන් ලියාපදිංචි වන ලෙස විදේශයන්හි වෙසෙන සියලුම ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයන්ට ආරාධනා කෙරේ. ඉක්මන් ක්‍රියාමාර්ග ගැනීම සඳහා අමාත්‍යාංශයට අවශ්‍ය තත්‍ය කාලීන දත්ත ලබා ගැනීමට මෙම වේදිකාව ඉඩ සලසයි. මෙම විවෘත ප්‍රවේශ වේදිකාව මඟින් එතෙර සිටින ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයින්ට රජයේ පාර්ශ්වකරුවන් සමඟ අන්තර් ක්‍රියා කිරීමට පහසුකම් සැලසෙන අතර, විදේශ සබඳතා අමාත්‍යාංශයේ එක් කේන්ද්‍රීය ස්ථානයක් හරහා රජයේ සේවාවන්ට වැඩි ප්‍රවේශයක් ලබා දෙනු ඇත. මෙම ද්වාරය මඟින්, එතෙර සිටින ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයන් විදේශවල පිහිටි ශ්‍රී ලංකා දූත මණ්ඩල ජාලය සමඟ ද සම්බන්ධ කරනු ඇත.

දීර්ඝ කාලීනව, මෙම ද්වාරය පුළුල් කරනු ලබන අතර, එමඟින් නිල තොරතුරු ප්‍රභවයක් ලෙස කටයුතු කිරීම සහ රජය විසින් සපයනු ලබන පුළුල් පරාසයක ඩිජිටල් සේවාවන් ලබා ගැනීම සඳහා එතෙර සිටින ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයන්ට පහසුකම් සැලසෙනු ඇතැයි අපේක්ෂා කෙරේ.

එතෙර සිටින ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයන්ගේ විමසීම්වලට ප්‍රතිචාර දැක්වීමට මෙන්ම, හදිසි අවස්ථාවල දී අදාළ පාර්ශ්වකරුවන් සමඟ සාකච්ඡා කර මාර්ගගත උපකාරක කවුළුවක් ලෙස කටයුතු කිරීම සඳහා ඇපකැපවූ නිලධාරීන් කණ්ඩායමක් දැනටමත් විදේශ සබඳතා අමාත්‍යාංශය විසින් පත් කර තිබේ. තමන් වෙසෙන රට අනුව ලියාපදිංචි වීම තුළින්, ජනතාව ඉවත් කර ගැනීම වැනි තීරණාත්මක ප්‍රතිචාර අවශ්‍ය අවස්ථාවන්හි දී ලැබෙන හදිසි ආධාර ඉල්ලීම් ගණන මත පදනම්ව, ස්ථිරසාර ප්‍රතිපත්තිමය තීරණ යෝජනා කිරීම සඳහා මෙම අමාත්‍යාංශයට ඉඩ සැලසෙනු ඇත.

මෙම පහසුකම් සැලසීම පහසු කිරීම සඳහා, නිතර අසනු ලබන ප්‍රශ්න (FAQs) ලැයිස්තුවක් ද මෙම ද්වාරයට ඇතුළත් වන අතර, එය පොදු විමසුම් සඳහා මාර්ගෝපදේශයක් වනු ඇත. ඕනෑම මාර්ගගත ගවේශකයක්  හෝ අතුරු මුහුණතක් භාවිත කරමින් අන්තර්ජාලය හරහා මෙම පරිශීලක හිතකාමී වේදිකාවේ පහසුවෙන් සැරිසැරීමට හැකිවන අතර, විමසීමක් කිරීම හෝ උදවු උපකාර ඉල්ලා සිටීම සඳහා සියලුම ලියාපදිංචි පරිශීලකයින්ට ජංගම දුරකථනයක් මඟින් වුවද ඊට ප්‍රවේශ විය හැකිය.

එතෙර සිටින ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයන්ගේ පෞද්ගලිකත්වය සහතික කිරීම සඳහා, මෙම ද්වාරය හරහා ලබා දෙනු ලබන දත්ත සුරක්ෂිත කර ඇති අතර, පරිශීලකයින්ගේ අවසරයකින් තොරව ඒවා වෙනත් පාර්ශවයන් වෙත ලබා නොදෙනු ඇත.

‘ශ්‍රී ලංකාව අමතන්න’ ද්වාරය හරහා එතෙර සිටින ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයන් සඳහා පුළුල් මාර්ගගත සේවා වේදිකාවක් නිර්මාණය කිරීම පිණිස මෙම ද්වාරයෙහි විශේෂාංග අදියර වශයෙන් පුළුල් කිරීම සඳහා, තොරතුරු හා සන්නිවේදන තාක්ෂණ නියෝජිතායතනය විදේශ සබඳතා අමාත්‍යාංශය සමඟ සමීපව කටයුතු කරනු ඇත.

මෙම ඒකාබද්ධ වේදිකාව මඟින්, එතෙර සිටින ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයින් සඳහා දැනට පවත්නා සේවා සැපයීම ඉහළ තලයකට ඔසවා තබනු ඇතැයි විදේශ සබඳතා අමාත්‍යාංශය අපේක්ෂා කරයි. විදේශයන්හි වෙසෙන සියලුම ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයින්ට, මෙම ද්වාරයෙන් ප්‍රතිලාභ ලබා ගන්නා ලෙස ආරාධනා කරනු ලැබේ.

විදේශ සබඳතා අමාත්‍යාංශය

කොළඹ

2020 මාර්තු 26 වැනි දින

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ஊடக வெளியீடு

வெளிநாட்டிலுள்ள இலங்கையர்களுக்காக ‘இலங்கையுடன் தொடர்பு கொள்ளுதல்‘ இணைய முகப்பினை ஐ.சி.டி.ஏ. உடன் இணைந்து வெளிநாட்டு உறவுகள் அமைச்சு அறிமுகப்படுத்தியுள்ளது

வெளிநாட்டிலுள்ள இலங்கையர்களின் நலனுக்காக இலங்கையின் தகவல் மற்றும் தொடர்பாடல் தொழில்நுட்ப நிறுவனம் (ஐ.சி.டி.ஏ) மற்றும் வெளிநாட்டு உறவுகள் அமைச்சு ஆகியன இணைந்து உருவாக்கிய ‘இலங்கையுடன் தொடர்பு கொள்ளுதல்’ இணைய முகப்பு இன்று (26 மார்ச் 2020) வெளிநாட்டு உறவுகள் அமைச்சில் ஆரம்பித்து வைக்கப்பட்டது. இதற்கான வலைத்தள இணைப்பினை அமைச்சின் வலைத்தளப் பக்கமான www.mfa.gov.lk முகவரியிலும், மற்றும் www.contactsrilanka.mfa.gov.lk என்ற இணையத்தளத்திலும் அணுகிக் கொள்ளலாம்.

கோவிட் – 19 நோய் நிலைமையை எதிர்த்துப் போராடுவதற்காகவும், விரைவான மற்றும் திறமையான சேவையை வழங்குவதற்காக டிஜிட்டல் தொழில்நுட்பத்தைப் பயன்படுத்துவதற்காகவும் அனைத்து அரசாங்கப் பங்குதாரர்களின் ஒருங்கிணைந்த முயற்சிகளுக்காக ஜனாதிபதி கோட்டாபய ராஜபக்ஷ அவர்களினால் விடுக்கப்பட்ட அழைப்பின் பேரில் இந்த இணைய முகப்பு நிறுவப்பட்டது.

கோவிட் – 19 போன்ற அவசர நிலைமைகளில் அணுகிக் கொள்வதற்கும், உதவுவதற்கும் இலங்கை அரசாங்கத்தை அனுமதிக்கும் முகமாக, இந்த இணைய முகப்பின் அடிப்படைச் செயற்பாடுகளில் தானாக முன்வந்து பதிவு செய்து கொள்ளுமாறு வெளிநாட்டில் வாழும் அனைத்து இலங்கையர்களும் அழைக்கப்படுகின்றார்கள். குறித்த நேரத்திற்கான உண்மையான தரவுகளின் அடிப்படையில் விரைவான நடவடிக்கைகளை அமைச்சு முன்னெடுப்பதற்கு இந்தத் தளம் உதவியாக அமையும். வெளிநாட்டு உறவுகள் அமைச்சின் ஒற்றை மையப்படுத்தப்பட்ட முனைப்பின் மூலமாக அரசாங்க சேவைகளை அதிகமாக அணுகிக் கொள்வதனை ஊக்குவித்து, வெளிநாட்டிலுள்ள இலங்கையர்கள் அரசாங்கப் பங்குதாரர்களிடையே தொடர்புகளை மேற்கொள்வதற்கும் இந்தத் திறந்த அணுகல் தளம் மேலும் வழியமைப்பதாக அமையும். மேலும், வெளிநாட்டிலுள்ள இலங்கையர்களை வெளிநாடுகளிலுள்ள இலங்கைத் தூதரகங்களின் வலையமைப்புடன் இந்த இணைய முகப்பு இணைத்து வைக்கும்.

நீண்ட காலத்திற்கு விரிவுபடுத்தப்படும் இந்த இணைய முகப்பு, அதிகாரபூர்வ தகவல் ஆதாரமாக செயற்பட்டு, அரசாங்கத்தால் வழங்கப்படும் பரந்தளவிலான டிஜிட்டல் சேவைகளை வெளிநாட்டிலுள்ள இலங்கையர்கள் பெற்றுக் கொள்வதற்கு வசதிகளை மேற்கொள்ளும் என எதிர்பார்க்கப்படுகின்றது.

வெளிநாட்டிலுள்ள இலங்கையர்களின் கேள்விகளுக்கு பதிலளிப்பதற்காகவும், சம்பந்தப்பட்ட பங்குதாரர்களுடன் கலந்தாலோசித்து அவசரமான காலங்களில் இணையவழி உதவி மையமாக செயற்படுவதற்காகவும் பிரத்தியேக அதிகாரிகள் குழுவொன்று ஏற்கனவே வெளிநாட்டு உறவுகள் அமைச்சினால் நியமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. அவசர உதவிக் கோரிக்கைகளின் எண்ணிக்கைக்கு அமைவாக, நாடுகளின் மூலமாக பதிவு செய்யும் முறைமையானது, நாட்டிலிருந்து வெளியேறுதல் போன்ற முக்கியமான சூழ்நிலைகளின் போது உறுதியான கொள்கை முடிவுகளை அமைச்சு முன்மொழிவதற்கு அனுமதிக்கும்.

இலகுவான வசதிக்காக, பொதுவான கேள்விகளுக்கான வழிகாட்டியாக செயற்படக்கூடிய, அடிக்கடி கேட்கப்படும் கேள்விகளின் பட்டியலையும் இந்த இணைய முகப்பு கொண்டுள்ளது. பயனருக்கு நட்புறவான இந்தத் தளத்தை இணையம் வாயிலாகவும், எந்தவொரு உலாவி அல்லது இடைமுகத்திலும் எளிதாக அடைய முடிவதுடன், பதிவு செய்யப்பட்ட அனைத்து பயனர்களும் கையடக்கத் தொலைபேசியொன்றினூடாகவும் கூட கோரிக்கையொன்றை முன்வைக்க அல்லது உதவிகளைக் கோர முடியும்.

இந்த இணைய முகப்பினூடாக வழங்கப்பட்ட தரவுகள் வெளிநாட்டிலுள்ள இலங்கையர்களின் தனியுரிமையை உறுதி செய்வதற்காக பாதுகாக்கப்படுவதுடன், பயனர்களின் அனுமதியின்றி பகிரப்பட மாட்டாது.

இணைய முகப்பின் அம்சங்களை படிமுறைகளாக விரிவாக்குவதற்கும், ‘இலங்கையுடன் தொடர்பு கொள்ளுதல்’ இணைய முகப்பினூடாக வெளிநாட்டிலுள்ள இலங்கையர்களுக்கான விரிவான இணையவழியான சேவைத் தளத்தை உருவாக்குவதற்கும் வெளிநாட்டு உறவுகள் அமைச்சுடன் இணைந்து ஐ.சி.டி.ஏ. நெருக்கமாக செயற்படும்.

இந்த ஒருங்கிணைந்த தளமானது, குறிப்பாக அவசரமான காலங்களில் விரைவாக பதில்களை வழங்குவதனை அனுமதித்து, வெளிநாட்டிலுள்ள இலங்கையர்களுக்கான தற்போதைய சேவை விநியோகத்தை உயர்வான மட்டத்திற்கு உயர்த்தும் என வெளிநாட்டு உறவுகள் அமைச்சு நம்புகின்றது. வெளிநாட்டில் வசிக்கும் அனைத்து இலங்கையர்களும் இந்த இணைய முகப்பின் மூலமாக பயன்களை அடைந்து கொள்வதற்காக அழைக்கப்படுகின்றார்கள்.

வெளிநாட்டு உறவுகள் அமைச்சு

கொழும்பு

26 மார்ச் 2020

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Arrangements are being made for the smooth return of foreign nationals who are presently in Sri Lanka on tourist and other visa categories. This will be done using both regular flight movements operating through Sri Lanka and also charter flights that may be deployed, as the airport remains open for outbound passenger movements.

Modalities to facilitate these movements were was discussed today at a meeting chaired by Secretary Foreign Relations, Ravinatha Aryasinha. The meeting was attended by the Ambassadors representing the western hemisphere as well as representatives from the Ministry of Defence, Police Department, Department of Immigration, Airport and Aviation Services, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Civil Aviation and Sri Lankan Airlines.

In view of the curfew which has been imposed, the Acting Inspector General of Police has assured that the air ticket could be used in lieu of a curfew pass for the passengers as well as the vehicle and driver that would be transporting the passengers. Chairman SLTPB said reputed taxi networks and hoteliers have been requested to assist in these movements.

During the meeting, the diplomats present drew attention to the continuing difficulties faced by their nationals presently in the country on account of negative reactions experienced by tourists on some occasions from both owners of tourist lodgings as well as sections of the general public. The Sri Lankan agencies present emphasized that public measures would be taken to ensure Sri Lanka’s traditional hospitality to foreign nationals in these difficult circumstances.

Special telephones lines have been set up to ensure that such instances will be reported promptly and dealt with.

Special contact facilities have also been provided to those foreign nationals who are being moved to the quarantine centres.

Following the appeal made by Sri Lanka earlier this week, the representatives of several governments informed that they had taken steps to extend visas of Sri Lankans abroad whose visas would have or will expire shortly. The Foreign Ministry was assured by the other countries that its request was receiving the highest consideration in other capitals. Earlier, Sri Lanka extended visas for all visiting foreign nationals by one month.

Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha has requested foreign governments to facilitate the appropriate extension of visas for Sri Lankans currently visiting their countries, and facing difficulty to return to Sri Lanka on account of the travel bans that have and will become applicable as part of the control measures on COVID- 19. He noted that the Government of Sri Lanka had on Tuesday (17 March) announced a one-month extension of all types of visas for those foreign nationals presently in the country, from the date of expiry of their present visas. He said such reciprocal arrangements were a common practice, and hoped that this could be facilitated for Sri Lankans, to minimize the anxieties faced by those travelling, in these exceptional times.

Foreign Secretary Aryasinha made these observations today (18 March), when he addressed a group of Ambassadors from Western Hemisphere, as part of the series of briefing sessions to keep the diplomatic community informed of the developments with regard to measures taken by Sri Lanka to control the spread of COVID-19.

While appreciating the supportive role played by the respective governments on assisting the Sri Lankan communities in their countries, the Foreign Secretary shared with the envoys present, the current status regards foreign nationals in Sri Lanka and some difficulties experienced by Sri Lankans overseas. He said, recognizing the concerns at present, all Sri Lanka diplomatic outposts now serve as emergency response units, where only limited consular and other services are continued to be offered amid the current challenges.

Concerns of foreign missions in Colombo over their citizens, facilities at the quarantine centres, and proper communication channels, were effectively responded to by the local stake holders present. The meeting also reached consensus on the smooth departure of foreign nationals, notwithstanding the closure of the airport for those seeking to enter Sri Lanka.

The envoys expressed appreciation for the efforts of the government in handling the situation, including extension of visas for their nationals, and assured that the request to reciprocate the same for Sri Lankans travelling in their countries will be communicated to their respective governments.

 

මාධ්‍ය නිවේදනය

ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ සිට පැමිණ සිටින ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයන්ගේ වීසා බලපත්‍ර දීර්ඝ කරන ලෙස ශ්‍රී ලංකාව විදේශ රාජ්‍යයන්ගෙන් ඉල්ලා සිටී

දැනට තම රටවල සංචාර සඳහා පැමිණ,  COVID-19 කොරෝනා වෛරස වසංගත තත්ත්වය නිසා පනවා ඇති සංචාරක තහනම හේතුවෙන් ආපසු ශ්‍රී ලංකාවට යාම පිළිබඳ අපහසුතාවයකට මුහුණ දෙන ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයින් සඳහා සුදුසු පරිදි වීසා බලපත්‍ර දීර්ඝ කිරීමට පහසුකම් ලබා දෙන ලෙස විදේශ ලේකම් රවිනාථ ආර්යසිංහ මහතා විදේශ රජයන්ගෙන් ඉල්ලා තිබේ. දැනට මෙරට තුළ සිටින විදේශීය ජාතිකයින් සඳහා, තම වර්තමාන වීසා බලපත්‍ර කල් ඉකුත් වූ දින සිට එක් මසක දීර්ඝ කිරීමක්, සියලු වර්ගවල වීසා බලපත්‍ර සඳහා ලබා දෙන බවට ශ්‍රී ලංකා රජය අඟහරුවාදා (මාර්තු 17) නිවේදනය කළ බව ඔහු සඳහන් කළේය. මෙවැනි අන්‍යෝන්‍ය විධිවිධාන පොදු  භාවිතයක් බව ප්‍රකාශ කළ ඔහු, මෙම සුවිශේෂී අවස්ථාවේ දී ඔවුන් මුහුණ දෙන ගැටලු අවම කර ගැනීම සඳහා ශ්‍රී ලාංකික සංචාරකයින්ට මෙම පහසුකම් සැලසීමට හැකි වනු ඇතැයි අපේක්ෂා කළේය.

විදේශ ලේකම් ආර්යසිංහ මහතා මෙම අදහස් ප්‍රකාශ කළේ‍, COVID-19 වසංගතය ව්‍යාප්ත වීම පාලනය කිරීම සඳහා ශ්‍රී ලංකාව විසින් ගෙන ඇති ක්‍රියාමාර්ග පිළිබඳව රාජ්‍යතාන්ත්‍රික ප්‍රජාව දැනුවත් කිරීම සඳහා පවත්වනු ලබන කරුණු විස්තර කිරීමේ සැසි මාලාවේ කොටසක් ලෙස අද (මාර්තු 18) දින බටහිර කලාපීය තානාපතිවරුන් පිරිසක් ඇමතූ අවස්ථාවේ දීය.

තම රටවල සිටින ශ්‍රී ලාංකික ප්‍රජාවන්ට උදව් උපකාර කිරීම සඳහා අදාළ රජයන් විසින් ලබා දෙන සහයෝගය විදේශ ලේකම්වරයා අගය කළ අතර, ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ සිටින විදේශිකයන් පිළිබඳ වර්තමාන තත්ත්වය සහ විදේශයන්හි සිටින ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයින් මුහුණ දෙන දුෂ්කරතා පිළිබඳව තොරතුරු පැමිණ සිටි තානාපතිවරුන් සමඟ බෙදා හදා ගත්තේය. වර්තමානයේ පවතින ගැටලු හඳුනා ගනිමින්, දැනට සියලුම ශ්‍රී ලංකා රාජ්‍යතාන්ත්‍රික දූතමණ්ඩල හදිසි ප්‍රතිචාර දැක්වීමේ ඒකක ලෙස කටයුතු කරන අතර, වර්තමාන අභියෝග මධ්‍යයේ කොන්සියුලර් හා වෙනත් සේවාවන් සීමිත ප්‍රමාණයක් පමණක් පවත්වාගෙන යන බව ඔහු පැවසීය.

තම පුරවැසියන්, නිරෝධායන මධ්‍යස්ථානවල පවතින පහසුකම් සහ නිසි සන්නිවේදන මාර්ග පිළිබඳව කොළඹ පිහිටි විදේශ දූත මණ්ඩලවලට ඇති ගැටලු සම්බන්ධයෙන්, එහි පැමිණ සිටි දේශීය පාර්ශ්වකරුවන් විසින් ඵලදායී ලෙස ප්‍රතිචාර දක්වන ලදී. ශ්‍රී ලංකාවට ඇතුළුවීමට අපේක්ෂා කරන අය සඳහා ගුවන්තොටුපල වසා දමා තිබියදීත්, මෙහි සිටින විදේශිකයන් අපහසුවකින් තොරව පිටත්කර හැරීම පිළිබඳව ද රැස්වීමේ දී එකඟතාවකට පැමිණෙන ලදී.

තම රටවැසියන් සඳහා වීසා බලපත්‍ර දීර්ඝ කිරීම ඇතුළුව, මෙම තත්වය පාලනය කිරීම සඳහා රජය ගන්නා උත්සාහය පිළිබඳව මෙම තානාපතිවරු අගය කළ අතර, තම රටවල සංචාරය කරන ශ්‍රී ලාංකිකයන් සඳහා ද ඒ හා සමාන පහසුකම් සලසා දෙන ලෙස කරනු ලබන ඉල්ලීම ඔවුන්ගේ රජයන් වෙත දැනුම් දෙන බවට සහතික වූහ.

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ஊடக வெளியீடு

விஜயங்களை மேற்கொள்ளும் இலங்கையர்களின் வருகை தரு வீசாக்களை நீடிக்குமாறு வெளிநாட்டு அரசுகளிடம் இலங்கை கோரிக்கை

தற்போது தமது நாடுகளுக்கு விஜயங்களை மேற்கொள்ளும் மற்றும் கோவிட் – 19 மீதான கட்டுப்பாட்டு நடவடிக்கைகளின் ஒரு பகுதியாக மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டுள்ள பயணத் தடைகளின் காரணமாக இலங்கைக்கு நாடு திரும்புவதில் சிரமங்களை எதிர்கொள்ளும் இலங்கையர்களுக்கு வீசாக்களை நீடிப்பதற்காக வசதிகளை மேற்கொள்ளுமாறு வெளிவிவகார செயலாளர் ரவிநாத ஆரியசிங்க வெளிநாட்டு அரசாங்கங்களிடம் கோரிக்கை விடுத்தார். தற்போது நாட்டிலுள்ள வெளிநாட்டவர்களின் அனைத்து வகையான வீசாக்களையும் அவர்களது தற்போதைய வீசாக்கள் காலாவதியாகும் திகதியிலிருந்து ஒரு மாத காலத்துக்கு நீடிப்பதற்கு இலங்கை அரசாங்கம் கடந்த செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை (மார்ச் 17) அறிவித்துள்ளதாக அவர் சுட்டிக்காட்டினார். இதுபோன்ற பரஸ்பர ஏற்பாடுகள் ஒரு பொதுவான நடைமுறையாவதுடன், இந்த விதிவிலக்கான காலப்பகுதியில் பயணங்களை மேற்கொள்பவர்கள் எதிர்கொள்ளும் பதற்றங்களைக் குறைப்பதற்கு இலங்கையர்களுக்கு இது வசதிகளை ஏற்படுத்தும் என தான் நம்புவதாக அவர் குறிப்பிட்டார்.

கோவிட் – 19 பரவுவதைக் கட்டுப்படுத்துவதற்கு இலங்கை மேற்கொண்டுள்ள நடவடிக்கைகள் தொடர்பான முன்னேற்றங்கள் குறித்து இராஜதந்திர சமூகத்தினருக்குத் தெரியப்படுத்துவதற்கான தொடர் மாநாட்டின் ஒரு பகுதியாக இடம்பெற்ற மேற்குலகைச் சேர்ந்த தூதுவர்கள் குழுவில் உரையாற்றியபோது, இந்த அவதானிப்புகளை வெளிவிவகார செயலாளர் ஆரியசிங்க இன்று (மார்ச் 18) மேற்கொண்டார்.

இலங்கை சமூகங்களுக்கு தமது நாடுகளில் உதவுவதில் அந்தந்த அரசாங்கங்கள் ஆற்றிய ஆதரவைப் பாராட்டிய அதே வேளை, இலங்கையில் உள்ள வெளிநாட்டினரின் தற்போதைய நிலை குறித்தும், வெளிநாடுகளில் உள்ள இலங்கையர்கள் அனுபவிக்கும் சில சிரமங்கள் குறித்தும் வெளிவிவகார செயலாளர் தூதுவர்களுடன் பகிர்ந்து கொண்டார். தற்போதுள்ள நிலைமைகளை அங்கீகரித்து, இலங்கையின் அனைத்து இராஜதந்திர நிலையங்களும் தற்போது அவசரகால பிரதிபலிப்பு அலகுகளாக செயற்படுவதுடன், தற்போதைய சவால்களுக்கு மத்தியில் அவை மட்டுப்படுத்தப்பட்ட கொன்சியூலர் மற்றும் ஏனைய சேவைகளை மட்டுமே தொடர்ச்சியாக வழங்கி வருகின்றன என அவர் தெரிவித்தார்.

தமது பிரஜைகள் தொடர்பான கொழும்பிலுள்ள வெளிநாட்டுத் தூதரகங்களின் கரிசனைகள், தனிமைப்படுத்தல் மையங்களிலுள்ள வசதிகள் மற்றும் சரியான தொடர்பு முறைமைகள் ஆகியவற்றுக்கு உள்நாட்டுப் பங்குதாரர்களால் திறம்பட பதிலளிக்கப்பட்டது. இலங்கைக்குள் நுழைய விரும்புவோருக்கு விமான நிலையம் மூடப்பட்டிருப்பினும் கூட, வெளிநாட்டவர்களை சீராக வெளியேற்றுவது குறித்தும் இந்த சந்திப்பின் போது ஒருமித்த கருத்து எட்டப்பட்டது.

தமது பிரஜைகளுக்கான வீசாக்களை நீடிப்பது உள்ளிட்ட நிலைமைகளைக் கையாள்வதிலான அரசாங்கத்தின் முயற்சிகளுக்கு தூதுவர்கள் பாராட்டுக்களைத் தெரிவித்ததுடன், தமது நாடுகளில் பிரயாணங்களை மேற்கொள்ளும் இலங்கையர்களும் பரஸ்பரம் அதனை மறுபரிசீலனை செய்து கொள்வதற்கான கோரிக்கையை அந்தந்த அரசாங்கங்களுக்குத் தெரிவிப்பதாக உறுதியளித்தனர்.