The decision came after UAE airline flydubai suspended flights between Dubai and the southern Russian cities of Mineralnye Vody and Sochi
aviation7 hours ago
The UAE is a land of endless opportunities and the Covid-19 pandemic has proven that the country could rise above any challenge, said Dhamika Malraj de Silva, the Sri Lankan Ambassador to the UAE.
Also read:
He cited that at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, many Sri Lankan expatriates who had lost their jobs had registered for repatriation. However, they were either retained or found new opportunities, and those who left have returned to find new jobs, which showed that the UAE labour market remained robust.
“Only 7,000 to 8,000 expats have left for Sri Lanka. The repatriation is almost complete. Initially, most of those who had registered were not repatriated because they had either rejoined the same company or found some other jobs in the UAE. Many Lankan nationals returned and found new jobs. The embassy created awareness about new vacancies that helped them find new jobs. The UAE government was supportive of the repatriation process,” De Silva said on the occasion of the 73rd Sri Lankan Independence Day, marked on Thursday.
It has been quite a ride for De Silva, who assumed office as Sri Lanka’s envoy to the UAE last May, at the height of the Covid-19 crisis.
“I had to immediately get into action. We expedited air travel to Sri Lanka, distributed dry rations among the needy, launched a 24/7 hotline, provided shelter facilities, coordinated with hospitals for admission of Covid-19 patients, distributed medical items for the infected and arranged free PCR tests for those returning home. Now, we’re coordinating with hospitals for the vaccination programme of our community members,” he said.
The envoy praised the timely assistance offered by the UAE authorities. “We faced challenges when expats lost their jobs and the mobile consular services provided to the Lankan community in distant places were temporarily withheld. Fortunately, the UAE government extended an amnesty period. We’re able to overcome the crisis because of their full support,” he said.
The ambassador aims to boost economic cooperation with the UAE and seeks to focus on Expo 2020, which will be held from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022.
“We’ll surprise the world at the Expo by showcasing the best of our culture and heritage. Plans are afoot to promote our tourism and exports. Sri Lanka offers a lot of business opportunities for the world at large,” he added. The emerald isles have also reopened its tourism sector after 10 months on January 21, the envoy said.“We’re allowing 2,500 tourists from the UAE at a time, in line with our bio-bubble arrangement,” he added.
The UAE is Sri Lanka’s largest trading partner in the Arabian Gulf region, and the country is also a home to around 300,000 Lankans.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com
The decision came after UAE airline flydubai suspended flights between Dubai and the southern Russian cities of Mineralnye Vody and Sochi
aviation7 hours ago
One expert also stressed the importance of critical soft skills such as adaptability, critical thinking, empathy, and collaboration
jobs7 hours ago
Local media reported that the domestic worker placed the baby in the washing machine because he 'annoyed her'
gulf9 hours ago
The Asian nationals defrauded others by impersonating officials and asking people to update their bank details or official documents
uae9 hours ago
'Our goal is to support creativity, celebrate diversity, and make sure everyone feels like they belong,' said head of operations and events at Hobby Nation
uae10 hours ago
The manner in which Brown was fired didn't sit well with Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone
sports10 hours ago
The honours were led by President Draupadi Murmu with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance, along with the country's top civilian and military officials
asia10 hours ago
Along with the special topography including wadis, trees, and dunes, even the sand in this area is different
weather11 hours ago