Majority of positive #COVID19SL cases identified last two days are the migrant workers repatriated from Kuwait. 466 travelers returned from Kuwait last week were the illegal residents in Kuwait who received the benefit the amnesty declared by the State of Kuwait.

It was estimated fifteen thousand illegal Sri Lankan residents in Kuwait. However, only less than 500 migrant workers holding passport were able to receive the benefit of the amnesty.

Illegal migrant workers registered for amnesty were given temporary shelter end of last month before they repatriated to #SriLanka due to the travel restriction in the home country. During the temporary home, they had to stay with other nationalities registered for amnesty.

They had to share the same rest area and wash room, which could have infected them. Had the Government of Sri Lanka taken the immediate action to repatriate them despite the travel restriction, this could have been avoided.

More Sri Lankans working in GCC countries have expressed desire to return through the Ministry’s ‘Contact Sri Lanka’ web portal and other means.