President orders investigation into notice to leave SL in 14 days

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has ordered an investigation into the notification issued to Russian and Ukrainian tourists, without prior Cabinet approval, requiring them to leave the country within 14 days.

The Sri Lankan Government has not officially decided to revoke the visa extensions previously granted to these tourists, the President’s Media Division said. It is said that the notice was issued by the Department of Immigration and Emigration, granting a period of 14 days from February 23 for all Russian and Ukrainian tourists residing long-term in Sri Lanka to leave the country.

The notice is related to the Russians and Ukrainians who had stayed back in Sri Lanka two years ago, due to the war between their countries. In the Department’s notice to the Tourism Ministry Secretary, it states that Ukrainians and Russians affected by the suspension of flights to their home countries after the outbreak of war were allowed to stay in Sri Lanka for a full two years from February 28, 2022, on free visa extensions.

It has been mentioned in the letter that although the Russian–Ukrainian conflict continues, there are now direct flights between Russia and Sri Lanka and Ukrainians also have facilities to enter and exit Sri Lanka by air, so it is observed that it is no longer necessary to extend their visas in the same way.

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