Over 10,000 Sri Lankans who overstayed their residency visas in Kuwait have returned to Sri Lanka under a general amnesty declared by the Kuwaiti government. This amnesty period, which ran from March 17 to June 17, 2024, allowed these individuals to leave Kuwait without facing fines or legal consequences. The Sri Lankan Embassy in Kuwait facilitated the repatriation process, ensuring that returnees could depart without any legal obstacles.
The amnesty was aimed at addressing the situation of illegal residents in Kuwait, allowing them to either legalize their status or leave the country without penalties. During the amnesty period, special arrangements were made for discounted airfares through SriLankan Airlines and Al Jazeera Airlines to support the returnees. The embassy also provided emergency travel documents to those in need.
