-KATHMANDU; ANN
Continuing to reach out to fellow Sri Lankans in need, SriLankan Airlines will operate special flights to Nepal’s Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu to bring home 93 Sri Lankan students who have been stranded in Nepal due to the prevailing travel restrictions imposed in view of the COVID 19 pandemic.
According to the Sir Lankan Airlines, an Airbus A320-214 (4R-ABM or 4R-MRE) has been permitted to operate passengers evacuation (repatriation) flights 24th of April, tomorrow with an extension of 72 hours from CAA Nepal.
It has been informed that an aircraft of Sir Lankan Airlines will take off from Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport at 02:30 UTC as Flight UL-1424 and will land at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) at 06:20 UTC. The aircraft while returning back will be as Flight No. UL-1425 and will take off at 11:15 UTC with Lankan Students. The aircraft will be on the command of Capt. Dushantha Leni Jayaweera and Capt. Rakitha Chathuranga Wijerathne.
The airline is also operating another passenger evacuation (repatriation) flight on tomorrow for Coimbatore to airlift 117 Sri Lankans as flight UL194.
These special flights are being operated as part of the Government of Sri Lanka’s program to bring back Sri Lankan students stranded in foreign countries and are being carried out in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Airline earlier operated several such flights to bring home pilgrims and students stranded in several countries, including a group of students who were trapped in Wuhan during the early days of the pandemic.
Accordingly, on 21st April, 93 Sri Lankans from Lahore and 20 from Karachi returned back on flight UL1206. On 23rd April a further 101 had flown back from Amritsar on flight UL146.
The Sri Lankan crew will observe all health regulations when operating these flights such as wearing PPE kits and disinfection of aircraft and personnel.
Sri Lanka’s High Commissions in these states have obtained permission from the respective civil aviation authorities to operate these special flights. The returnees will be handed over on arrival in Sri Lanka to the care of Sri Lanka’s health authorities, armed forces, and other relevant institutions, for necessary procedures.
