In a significant development, a Royal order in the United Arab Emirates has granted clemency to forty-four Sri Lankan individuals who were incarcerated in various prisons across the country. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates officially communicated this pardon to the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, citing the occasion of the 52nd National Day of the UAE, celebrated on December 2.
The decision to pardon these Sri Lankan prisoners aligns with the recent visit of President Ranil Wickremesinghe to the UAE for the COP 28 and underscores the robust bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates. The act of clemency is anticipated to further fortify the amicable ties between the two nations.
Following the Royal pardon, the Government of the United Arab Emirates is set to repatriate the forty-four pardoned Sri Lankan individuals to their homeland. The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi will actively collaborate with the relevant authorities of the United Arab Emirates Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka to ensure the safe and smooth repatriation of the detainees. This move reflects a positive step towards fostering diplomatic goodwill and cooperation between Sri Lanka and the UAE.
