Due to the volatile situation in the country, the Government of Sri Lanka is making arrangements to evacuate all Sri Lankans in Yemen, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement this evening. The Ministry also requested the public to provide it with details of their relatives in Yemen.

The statement said that there are reportedly 75-100 Sri Lankans, including students, in Yemen. They are principally residing in the capital, Sana’a and other main cities, such as Hodeida, Aden and Mukalla. The MFA in coordination with the Sri Lanka Embassy in Muscat, is exploring all possible avenues to ensure the safe return of the Sri Lankans.

The Sri Lanka Mission in Muscat, Oman is concurrently accredited to Yemen. It is in contact with some Sri Lankans in Yemen, who are directly monitoring the welfare of the Sri Lankans in their present locations, MFA said.

The Government of Sri Lanka has sought the assistance of the UN Office in Sana’a and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Colombo in the evacuation efforts, MFA said.

Meanwhile, the Indian Government has promptly acceded to the request of the Government of Sri Lanka to bring the stranded Sri Lankans along with Indian nationals in Yemen, who are to be evacuated by air and sea on special flights and ships respectively. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ajith P. Perera, in his capacity as Acting Minister last week instructed the Sri Lanka High Commission in New Delhi and the Sri Lanka Embassy in Muscat to liaise with the Ministry of External Affairs of India and the Indian Embassies in Muscat and Sana’a to coordinate the evacuation process, the statement elaborated.

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera has issued directives to the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Kenya and the Charge d’ Affaires in Muscat in Djibouti to  support the operation in coordination with the Indian officials.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges the next of kin of the Sri Lankans in Yemen to provide the contact details of their relatives to the Ministry by e-mail or telephone:
MFA, Consular Division – 0115839414 / 0112323015
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Alternatively, the Ministry asks the public to request their relatives in Yemen to provide the information to the Sri Lanka Embassy in Muscat:
Charge d’ Affaires/Oman 0096 895863739/ 0096 899898836
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