Type of Intervention: Specific Action
Sectors Involved: Foreign Affairs
Intervention Categories: International travel measures; Repatriation of nationals
Level of Jurisdiction: Supranational
Lead People/Agency: Minister and cabinet. Implementation by the Ministry of Foreign Affaires
Overview: Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a television interview recorded on 07 May 2020, (Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation) expanded on the Cabinet Paper presented by Minister of Foreign Relations, Skills Development, Employment and Labour Relations regards “addressing the vulnerable sectors of the migrant labour category of Overseas Sri Lankans amidst the COVID-19 pandemic by the Government of Sri Lanka”.
Full details here: https://news.lk/news/political-current-affairs/item/30105-foreign-secretary-aryasinha-elaborates-on-cabinet-decision-to-give-priority-in-repatriation-to-vulnerable-sectors-among-overseas-sri-lankan-migrant-workers
Other links: 1
Type of Justification: Advice of INTERNAL government advisory committee or group, Perception of an increased threat
Source of Evidence or Justification: Media interview
Evidence/Justification: Extracts and summary of the interview by the Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs states: Once repatriation started, it should be done on the basis of maximum vulnerability. It is on that basis that we recommended that South Asian students be prioritized and that first concluded only about a week ago. The Cabinet Paper on 6th of May re-emphasizes the position of the government stated a month ago that the foreign migrant workers are a category which are vulnerable in certain countries and therefore the need to pay special attention to them and facilitate their return.