174 Indian nationals including an infant were repatriated from Sri Lanka on a special Air India flight AI 1284 from Colombo to Mumbai and Delhi on 24 September, 2020.   

The flight was scheduled as part of ‘Vande Bharat Mission,’ an Indian Government initiative to undertake the largest ever repatriation from all over the world for return of Indian nationals stranded abroad due to COVID-19 pandemic.   
Over 1.3 million Indians have been repatriated so far through different modes of the ‘Vande Bharat Mission’ including Air India, private and foreign aircraft, chartered flights, naval ships and land border crossings from around the world. The Phase 6 of ‘Vande Bharat Mission’ became operational on September 1.   

The Indian nationals who were stranded in Sri Lanka due to restrictions on international travel because of COVID-19 pandemic have expressed their ecstasy at the opportunity to return home. Nearly 2,000 Indian nationals have been repatriated from Sri Lanka so far including this flight, through the ninth special Air India Flights, an Indian Naval Ship Jalashwa which made a voyage from Colombo to Tuticorin on June 1 and through various charter flights.   

Based on the registrations received by the High Commission of India, a passenger manifest is prepared for the special repatriation flights. Priority is given to compelling cases in distress, including migrant workers/labourers who have been laid off, short-term visa holders faced with expiry of visa, people with medical emergency/ pregnant women/elderly, those required to return to India due to death of family members and students as stated in the Standard Operating Procedure issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India.   

Those stranded Indian nationals who have not yet registered with the High Commission, may kindly do so on the following link: https://hcicolombo.gov.in/COVID_helpline. We urge all stranded Indian nationals to follow updates on High Commission’s website and social media.     

https://hcicolombo.gov.in/COVID_helpline