Sri Lanka terminates visa extensions for Russian and Ukrainian visitors amidst economic turmoil
As of February 23, immigration authorities in Sri Lanka announced that all Russians residing on the island and a segment of Ukrainians are given a two-week notice to leave. This regulation affects individuals who are in the country on extended tourist visas. The local government, based in Kotte, explains this sudden change in policy by the return to normal air travel.
4:56 AM EST, February 27, 2024
"As per official figures, over 288 thousand Russians and almost 20 thousand Ukrainians have migrated to Sri Lanka since the start of the conflict two years ago," underlines "The Independent".
Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka's President, has called for an inquiry into this matter to prevent potential diplomatic disputes. Several Sri Lankan media outlets highlight that the Ministry of Tourism's notice was released without the government's previous consent, which hasn't yet formally addressed this issue.
Accusations lodged against Russians
The Daily Mirror reports that Harin Fernando, the Minister of Tourism, has received multiple grievances about Russian visitors theoretically operating businesses illegally in the south of the country.
Subsequently, raids involving immigration officials were conducted on these suspected locations. The Russians are accused of owning bars and clubs and renting out water sports gear exclusively to white people. Their services are not accessible to locals.
To stimulate tourism and recover from the gravest economic slump since 2022, Sri Lanka began offering 30-day visas on arrival, which can be prolonged for up to six months.
Bankruptcy of the nation
In 2022, Sri Lanka was hit by a severe economic downturn. The solution was presumed to be in tourism, with 30-day visas being issued and subsequently extended for up to six months.
As of August 2022, the rate of inflation soared to 70 percent, food prices escalated by an impressive 84 percent year-on-year. However, these are not the only issues. The crisis has left approximately 3 million people on the brink of starvation.
In April 2022, Sri Lanka defaulted on $46 billion foreign debt. The economic ruin instigated violent public riots that spanned several months. Consequently, then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa stepped down from his position.
In April 2023, Sri Lanka declared it would disregard Western sanctions imposed on Russia. - The Sri Lankan authorities have reassured the Russian government that Russian ships or aircraft will not be intercepted on the island; future arrests have also been ruled out - announces Bandula Gunawardana, Sri Lanka's Minister of Transport for RIA Novosti.
Following its bankruptcy, Sri Lanka faces a grim economic outlook that may last until 2026, according to the prediction of President Wickremesinghe.
