Ministry ready to help Lankan stranded in Caracas

The External Affairs Ministry said it could intervene to get down the Sri Lankan man who is reportedly stranded at the Caracas airport, had the next of kin or the authorities there have informed this case to the Sri Lankan missions in Cuba or Brazil.

A senior official contacted by the Sunday Observer to inquireabout the plight of this man said they could not pay travelexpenses but if it was notified the Ministry certainly could havesought help from organizations such as the International Organisation for the Migrants (IOM) to facilitate a repatriation.

"It is unusual that he had not made any attempt to call his family or any official for the past three months," the official said they need to verify if this person was a victim of human smuggling or an illegal immigrant since they are the ones who destroy their travel documents once they land in the West or another country.

The news reports originating form Venezuela, said the man had been trapped at the Maiquetia International Airport in Caracas because the officials there had not allowed him to enter the country without proper documentation or a Visa.

"We have missions in Cuba and Brazil, one of the two is accredited to Venezuela, this man should have been reported to either of these missions. I can't understand why it has not been done so far, "the official added.

It is suspected that the stranded man had travelled to Venezuela from Mexico but due to an agreement between the two countries, Venezuelen authorities are prevented from sending him back to Mexico.

The report further said that he cannot be sent back, because Venezuela and Sri Lanka does not have direct flights and also for the reason that the authorities have not been able to find a country to host him as a transit passenger. MF