Expat Sri Lankans Right Of Return Violated Due To Covid-19 Mismanagement

By Mohamed Ajiwath –MAY 30, 2020

Mohamed Ajiwath

-19 was spreading in Wuhan china from late Dec 2019 and on February 2020 the first batch of 33 (mainly students) were evacuated to Sri Lanka and kept in 14-day Quarantine in an army facility. Since early March returnees from selected countries were required to undergo mandatory quarantine in various camps. After, Covid-19 was made pandemic by WHO on March 11 2020, our international airport was closed on march 19 for all incoming passengers, though kept open for outgoing passenger’s for a brief time.

Many returnee’s expats who arrived before the strict enforcement of quarantined, were subsequently found to be Covid-19 positive hence caused community pocket clusters. The government of Sri Lanka took swift action using contact tracing and minimized further community transmission of the Covid-19. 

The action of the Covid-19 task force, including the front line health professionals, intelligence personnel and the security forces under the direction of the President is commendable and even appreciated by many world leaders. The enforced curfews and movement restrictions have largely effective except for the sudden hikes among Navy Personnel. As of May 30th, even the Navy cluster has been largely brought under the control.

However, the continued closure of the airport took heavy toll on the expat community, many of lost jobs and are stranded. Many of the expats who were planning to return to their country of origin were denied the opportunity to come back and government is facing heavy criticism from many corners for not standing be the expats during their time of despair,

This article critically explores the current Covid-19 management practices and how it can be improved and provide some solution with a view of urgently opening the airport for all incoming passengers of Sri Lankan origin.

Key Issues Involved

Although large population of Sri Lankan origin lives with their families in Europe, USA and Australia and most of them chosen to stay put even during the pandemic. Majority of these migrants are living in those country by their own choice hence, and despite the heavy tolls in Europe, there is no expected heavy inflow of Sri Lankans (except those came from Italy). 

However, the demographic pattern of expat employees in West Asia (specially middle east) is different ball game where mostly the expats are employed due to sheer economic compulsion, rather than by their own preferred choice. Majority of them, except for few who are employed as professional, are essentially poor unskilled, domestic workers or self- employed who are going through heavy physical, mental and emotional hardships just to protect their families from hunger and to give them basic decent living.

Immediately after the pandemic declaration, the number of Covid-19 positive cases dramatically increased in Europe, USA and the Gulf Countries. Sudden increase and rapid spread of the virus is mainly attributed to the very nature of the camp type accommodation where heavy concentration of employees are sharing minimal facilities. In many cases the recommended social distancing norms are not practical if not impossible. Similar scenarios are found in detention camps (e.g., Kuwait from where the first batch of detainees were returned).

Considering the increased number of covid 19 positive cases, all Gulf Countries implemented Covid 19 containment protocols including closure of all non-essential services. Accordingly, almost all, employers lost their regular income. As a result, many of Sri Lankan employees lost their jobs, salaries deferred and suddenly found themselves in a nightmare. Some companies while retaining their staff, reduced the salaries through indirect and non-voluntary means. Apart from regularly employed personnel substantial numbers are engaged in self-employment (such as taxi drivers, food mess operators, cleaners, day workers, small vendors etc.) They also lost their regular income. 

The overall situation which arose unexpectedly, left with no choice other than returning back to Sri Lanka. Naturally it is their expectation to return back to Sri Lanka to avoid further expenditures (and in some cases starvation). 

Many welfare support group and the embassies are currently helping some of the affected employees. However, there is no rosy pictures, when all those who were reasonably earning were forced to depend on the generosity of others. Knowing that the pandemic is going to stay for a while, the no 1 priority of those impacted is to return to Sri Lanka without further delays. 

Hence it the responsibility of the current government to facilitate early repatriation of the stranded employees as well as to assist those who willing to visit their families at this time of despair.

Kuwait Returnees

As part of a program to bring back Sri Lankans, the government gave priorities to students all over the world. A limited number of special flights were operated from middle east including UAE, Kuwait and Qatar. Whilst all the passenger list was either selected or endorsed by Covid-19 task force, the repatriation of detainees was done through Kuwait government flights (2 Nos) during late May. Upon arrival and having gone through the PCR tests, approximately 200 returnees were found to have Covid 19 positive, hence the government decided to slow down the repatriation process. Although Sri Lankan and other Flight operators indicated their willingness to start regular commercial flights from June 1st, the plans are currently shelved due to government decision. 

Citing the limited Quarantine Facilities and Treatment capacities (which are exclusively government operated through Covid 19 Task force), the right of return of expat employees are unduly delayed. 

Whilst there are proposals to open the airport from August for Tourist, there is no specific information available for Sri Lanka oversees employees and their families.

Current approach to Covid-19 Prevention for oversees returnees

Currently all returnees are taken to Government run Quarantine centers (or Hotels in some cases where the returnee bear the cost) and detained for 21 days. All are subjected to PCR tests and if found positive taken to Covid isolation wards and treated. Those found to be negative, are released from detaining centers. 

Since the current PCR test take 2-3 days, there is no option other to send all returnees to quarantine centers. 

From the writer’s research, it was noted that alternative approaches are employed by various government and in some case the Covid 19 management is more effective than what is practiced in Sri Lanka (Kerala is a living example). The author encourages all relevant authorities to explore such practices and adopt a more flexible yet effective Covid 19 management for all returnees. 

Testing Methodology for Covid-19 

Many variants of Molecular or Serological Tests are currently employed internationally. 

Molecular tests look for signs of an active infection. 

They usually involve taking a sample from the back of the throat with a cotton swab. The doctor then sends the sample off for testing.

The sample will undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. This type of test detects signs of the virus’s genetic material.

A PCR test can confirm a diagnosis of COVID-19 if it identifies two specific SARS-CoV-2 genes. If it identifies only one of these genes, it will produce an inconclusive result. 

Molecular tests can only help diagnose current cases of COVID-19. They cannot tell whether someone has had the infection and since recovered.

Serological tests

These tests detect antibodies that the body produces to fight the virus. These antibodies are present in anyone who has recovered from COVID-19. 

The antibodies exist in blood and tissues throughout the body. A serological test usually requires a blood sample.

Serological tests are particularly useful for detecting cases of infection with mild or no symptoms.

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