242 Indian nationals stranded in Sri Lanka were repatriated on a special Air India (AI 02802) flight from Colombo to Delhi-Lucknow - Gaya yesterday(22), the Indian High Commission in Colombo said.
The flight was scheduled as part of ‘Vande Bharat Mission’ a Government of India initiative to undertake the largest ever repatriation from all over the world for return of Indian nationals stranded abroad due to COVID19 pandemic.
High Commissioner of India Gopal Baglay thanked the Government and people of Sri Lanka for their continued cooperation in the repatriation of stranded Indian nationals from Sri Lanka. Nearly 1500 Indian nationals have been repatriated from Sri Lanka so far including this flight, through a special Air India Flight on 29 May, Indian Naval Ship Jalashwa which made a voyage from Colombo to Tuticorin on 01 June, another special Air India Flight on 15 June and through various charter flights. In coordination with Government of Sri Lanka, 202 Sri Lankan nationals also returned home from India through this special Air India flight.