A special Air India flight arrived in New Delhi from Tokyo, on Thursday bringing back 119 Indian nationals & 5 nationals from Sri Lanka ,Nepal, South Africa & Peru who were on-board the Diamond Princess Cruise ship docked off at Yokohama in Japan.
The foreigners were evacuated "in line with India's neighbourhood first policy and Indo-Pacific vision", the Indian Government said.
All the evacuees will undergo a 14 day quarantine at the quarantine facility set up by the Indian Army in Manesar, Haryana.
Upon completion of the quarantine procedure in India, the two Sri Lankan crew members will return to Colombo.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in a twitter message a short while ago said, "The Actg. Indian High Com. in #lka informed me the two Sri Lankans on board the #DiamondPrincess who were quarantined were flown out of Tokyo & arrived safely in #Delhi. My heartfelt gratitude to PM @narendramodi , the Gov. of India & @airindiainfor facilitating the evacuation." The ship was put under quarantine by Government of Japan on 5th February for 14 days until 19th February, as one of the passengers who had disembarked from the ship had tested positive for COVID-19. The quarantine period was extended by the Government of Japan as the crew members were performing their regular duties during the initial quarantine period of 14 days.The Actg. Indian High Com. in #lka informed me the two Sri Lankans on board the #DiamondPrincess who were quarantined were flown out of Tokyo & arrived safely in #Delhi. My heartfelt gratitude to PM @narendramodi, the Gov. of India & @airindiain for facilitating the evacuation.
— Mahinda Rajapaksa (@PresRajapaksa) February 27, 2020
Air India flight has just landed in Delhi from Tokyo,carrying 119 Indians & 5 nationals from Sri Lanka,Nepal, South Africa&Peru who were quarantined onboard the #DiamondPrincess due to #COVID19. Appreciate the facilitation of Japanese authorities. Thank you @airindiain once again
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 26, 2020