Letter from Australian High Commissioner in Colombo to Parents of Sri Lankan Students in Australia

April 6, 2020

Letter from Australian High Commissioner in Colombo to Parents of Sri Lankan Students in Australia Read More »

Minister Gunawardena explores practical solutions to assist expatriate communities with Foreign Ministry Officials

April 5, 2020

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 & 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.

Ministry of Foreign Relations

Colombo

03 April 2020

Foreign Ministry takes stock of action by Sri Lanka Missions abroad to ensure the welfare of Overseas Sri Lankans (OSL)

April 4, 2020

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

COVID–19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund, Sri Lanka

April 3, 2020

The Government of Sri Lanka set up ‘COVID-19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund’ on 23^rd March 2020, to strengthen the activities aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19 virus in the country and to support the related social welfare programmes in response to the novel corona virus outbreak in Sri Lanka. This Fund which is managed under a committee consisting of relevant line Ministry Secretaries, bankers, financial analysts and health authorities has now surpassed Rs. 242 million with direct deposits and donations received from organizations and individual donors.

The objectives of this Fund are:

• To provide immediate funding requirement of Director General, Health Services to meet all expenditure connected with COVID-19 related healthcare facilities including drugs, testing equipment and capacity expenses.
• To meet expenses connected to healthcare and safety of health sector employees and all logistic providers working to provide essential public delivery services.
• To provide basic essentials to children,women,low-income,elderly, differently-abled and vulnerable people.
• To mobilize required funding to strengthen public healthcare systems, including village and remote area dispensaries, testing and treatment centers, family healthcare system, to further consolidate Sri Lanka’s public healthcare system to reduce country risks to communicable diseases.
• To assist indigenous medicine, sanitary product manufacturing and distribution, promote research to use resources, knowledge and skills to innovate new health and sanitation products based on local raw materials.
• To promote research and innovation using Sri Lanka’s medical and scientific knowledge and experience to develop protective dresses and sanitation products to global market.
• To promote healthy living with organic food consumption, valuing traditional, yet rich living styles, through media and educational programmes.
• To coordinate fund raising with WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, World Bank, ADB and Sri Lanka’s major development partner community and agencies based on best guidelines for resource allocations, harmonized national procurement system and governance practices.

In response to the interest shown by expatriate Sri Lankan community and well-wishers around the world to support the efforts made by the Government of Sri Lanka in curtailing the spread of the virus in the country and associated social welfare, Sri Lanka Missions/Posts are directed to guide the prospective donors.

High Commission of Sri Lanka in Canberra

03 April 2020

Central Bank requests Sri Lankans and well-wishers to make foreign currency deposits in the Country’s banking system

April 3, 2020

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has made an appeal to Sri Lankans and well-wishers living in Sri Lanka and abroad to make foreign currency deposits within the country’s banking system of Licensed Commercial Banks and Specialised Financial Institutions as a gesture of goodwill and assistance to Sri Lanka and its people during the three months commencing from April 2, 2020, in support of the wide-ranging national effort to safeguard people from coronavirus, to bring its spread under control and to provide healthcare and social security to the people.

The Central Bank has announced that foreign currency deposits in Sri Lankan banking system at this difficult stage will be of immense help to authorities to tide over the present crisis.

The Central Bank has guaranteed that foreign currency deposits into the Sri Lankan banking system will be accepted without hindrance from the government, Central Bank or any other government authority, and future convertibility of these deposits into foreign currency whenever the depositors desire to do so. All  such foreign exchange remittances will be exempted from Exchange Control Regulations and taxes and protected under banking secrecy provisions.

UPDATE 01 April 2020 – Extension of Visas for the Foreigners in Sri Lanka

April 3, 2020

Having considered the spread of Covid-19 virus in the country, it has been decided to further extend the validity period of all types of Visas issued to all foreigners who are currently residing in Sri Lanka for another 30 days.

Such foreign nationals are kindly requested to proceed as advised below:

2. The validity period of all types of Visas will be extended till 12th May 2020.
3. The procedure to pay the relevant visa fee and to get the visa endorsed in the Passport will be informed later. Hence, the foreign nationals are hereby informed to refrain from visiting the Visa Division of the Department of Immigration and Emigration as mentioned in the previous notice.
4. If any foreign national intends to leave the island during the aforementioned period; the journey will be facilitated by paying the relevant visa fee at the Airport without any penalty.
5. The validity period of the Acknowledgements issued for the applications already submitted to the Department of Immigration and Emigration to obtain visas, will also be extended for another period of 30 days; till 12th May 2020. If any foreign national intends to leave the country during the given period, a request to obtain his/her passport along with a scan copy of the Acknowledgement and the flight ticket should be sent to the following email addresses. Necessary advice in this regard, will be communicated accordingly via the same channel.

dcvisa@immigration.gov.lk

acvisa@immigration.gov.lk

acvisa1@immigration.gov.lk

acvisa2@immigration.gov.lk

aceta@immigration.gov.lk

Further information may be obtained by calling telephone number +94771588724.

Donations to Sri Lanka to fight COVID – 19 Pandemic

March 30, 2020

• COVID – 19 Notices

• COVID – 19 Related News

• Registration for COVID – 19 Assistance

Special Notice from the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka Regarding the Closure Of Airports

March 30, 2020

According to instructions received from Sri Lanka Health Authorities, all international Airports in Sri Lanka will continue  to be closed for the operation of inbound  international commercial passenger flights (i.e. arrivals) until  2359 hrs on 07^th April 2020  (local time in Sri Lanka) .The closure will be reviewed by the Sri Lanka Authorities.

However, during the above mentioned restricted period, the following will be permitted: Read More »

Important Notice Regarding Temporary Visas for Sri Lankans in Australia

March 30, 2020

As you are already aware, the Government of Sri Lanka has urged Overseas Sri Lankans who wish to return to Sri Lanka to safely remain where they are now until the risk of COVID-19 virus is minimized.

However, if you have an issue with the validity of your temporary visa due to the extended stay in Australia you need to contact the Department of Home Affairs in Australia and you must apply for a new visa before your current visa expires. Following information from the Australian Department of Home Affairs will be useful for you: Read More »

Over 17,000 Overseas Sri Lankans register on ‘Contact Sri Lanka’

March 29, 2020

Over 17,457 Overseas Sri Lankans (OSL) had by Saturday noon (28 March), registered on the ‘Contact Sri Lanka’ Online Portal of the Ministry of Foreign Relations. Of these, 6773 are from the Middle East region, 1892 from Europe, 1302 from South Asia, 1028 from North America and over 6000 from other parts of the world.

This portal jointly created by the Ministry of Foreign Relations and the Information & Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) for the benefit of Overseas Sri Lankans, was launched on Thursday (26 March 2020). Read More »