Sri Lanka offers free visa extension to Ukrainian, Russian tourists as war rages
COLOMBO – Sri Lanka has decided to provide a two-month visa extension free of charge to over 15,000 Ukrainian and Russian tourists currently holidaying in the country, as fighting continues amid talks and mounting sanctions against Russia.
The cabinet of ministers on Monday (Feb 28) approved a proposal by Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga to allow the free extension, the cabinet office said on Tuesday (March 1), adding that the extension will apply to 11,463 Russians and 3,993 Ukrainians who are currently in Sri Lanka.
Ukrainian tourists in Sri Lanka held a protest outside the Russian embassy in Colombo on Monday and asked the Sri Lankan government and its people, who had lived through their own war, for support in Ukraine’s “struggle for freedom”.
Monday’s protest was part of a series of activities organized by Ukrainians holidaying in Sri Lanka against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A group of Ukrainian tourists also held a silent vigil held in the Galle Fort, a popular tourist destination in the south.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has affected tourism in Sri Lanka, with sources saying a majority of new arrivals to from different countries have been cancelled or postponed.
-economynext.com/ENCL