Stranded Lankans arrive from Thailand

MOHAMMED NAALIR

COLOMBO: A SriLankan Airlines flight carrying 280 passengers who were stranded in Bangkok arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday. A second flight will leave Bangkok today at 2.45am.

Following the unrest at the Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Muang Airports in Thailand, 360 Sri Lankan passengers were stranded in Thailand. Acting Foreign Minister Hussein Bhaila told Parliament yesterday that the Foreign Ministry along with the Sri Lankan High Commission in Bangkok took all efforts to evacuate Sri Lankan passengers from Thailand with the assistance of Thai authorities.

He said the SriLankan Airlines carrying 110 passengers from a military base in Bangkok arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday.

The Country Manager of SriLankan Airlines also gave maximum assistance to bring the stranded Sri Lankans. “In addition our mission is also looking into the possibility of sending more passengers to Malaysia through a land route at a cost of US$ 60 to 70 per person,” he added. The Sri Lankan Ambassador in Bangkok Prof J. B. Dissanayake also visited hotels where a large number of Sri Lankans were accommodated.