Government ready to repatriate Pinoys in Sri Lanka

MANILA, Philippines — The government is ready to repatriate Filipinos in Sri Lanka, which is experiencing an economic crisis and has defaulted on its multi-billion dollar foreign debt, Malacañang said.

“If a problem arises, they (Filipinos) just need to call the embassy or our consulate so they can be repatriated,” deputy presidential spokesman Kristian Ablan said at a press briefing last Friday.?“We can assure you that the Philippine government, through the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs), is on top of the situation. We empathize (with) our Filipino countrymen in Sri Lanka,” he added.

Ablan said no Filipino has called the Philippine embassy in Dhaka and the honorary consulate in Colombo to request for repatriation as of last Friday.

There are more than 500 Filipinos in Sri Lanka, based on latest government data.?In an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel last May 25, Zeny Gadut said the South Asian country is experiencing shortages in the supply of essential items and petrol.

Gadut said many Filipinos in Sri Lanka want to return to the Philippines.

However, those who are married to Sri Lankans may face issues because the repatriation would only cover Philippine passport holders, she added.

Last month, Sri Lanka announced that it would temporarily default on its $51-billion foreign debt, saying recent events like the impact of COVID-19 and the fallout from the Ukraine conflict have “eroded” its fiscal position.

It said that the “continued normal servicing of external public debt obligations has become impossible” for the country.

The halt in the servicing of external public debts would remain, pending an orderly and consensual restructuring of the obligations that is consistent with an economic adjustment program supported by the International Monetary Fund.

The United Nations has expressed concern over the violent clashes that erupted because of the shortage of gas and fuel in Sri Lanka and has called for a solution that involves “a robust democracy and respect for human rights.”