Gnanasara writes to Kuwait Ambassador to further extend 3-months visa for stranded Sri Lankans

Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero yesterday called on the Ambassador of Kuwait in Sri Lanka to grant a further grace period of three months for Sri Lankans stranded in Kuwait without visa or residence permit.

Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero

In a letter dated 21 July, Ven. Gnanasara wrote to the Ambassador of Kuwait in Sri Lanka seeking permission to extend a further three months’ grace period to Sri Lankans in Kuwait without visa or residence permit, while charging the Sri Lankan Embassy in Kuwait with inefficiency and lethargy in taking quick action to bring stranded Sri Lankans in the country.

“To our estimates, the number of Sri Lankan citizens stranded in Kuwait is approximately 3,000. Though your esteemed Government extended a grace period for them to leave Kuwait without hindrance, the inefficiency and lethargy on the part of Sri Lankan Embassy in Kuwait have deprived these people to avail the gesture of goodwill of the State of Kuwait, and they continue to be stranded in Kuwait without help,” the letter said.

Ven. Gnanasara Thero also expressed gratitude and respect to the State of Kuwait for extending a grace period for Sri Lankans in Kuwait without proper visa or residence permit to exit the country without hindrance.

According to the letter, 27 Sri Lankans in Kuwait have died of COVID-19 and/or other sicknesses.

“In these circumstances, we respectfully wish to solicit through your Excellency’s Embassy to request the State of Kuwait to grant a further grace period extended over three months, or as your esteemed Government may wish to do so,” Ven. Gnanasara requested in the letter.