Sri Lanka scraps long-term visa for Russians, Ukrainians

NEW DELHI: Sri Lanka has announced the termination of long-term tourist visa extensions for Russians and Ukrainians who have been using the policy to reside on the island since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"The government is not granting further visa extensions," Commissioner-General of Immigration Harsha Ilukpitiya said, giving a March 7 deadline for departure.

"The flight situation has now normalised and they have no difficulty in getting back."

Over the past two years, official figures reveal that approximately 288,000 Russians and nearly 20,000 Ukrainians have visited Sri Lanka.

The number of individuals who have stayed beyond the standard 30-day tourist visa is unclear, but it is believed that a significant number of Russians and a smaller number of Ukrainians have settled in Sri Lanka, possibly to avoid military conscription.

This decision by the Sri Lankan government coincides with a social media backlash against a Russian-run nightclub in the coastal resort town of Unawatuna, which organized a controversial "whites-only" party.

Sri Lanka had previously introduced the 30-day visa on arrival policy to attract tourists and boost its economy, as the country has been grappling with its worst economic crisis since mid-2022.

In April 2022, Sri Lanka defaulted on its $46 billion foreign debt, which led to months of street protests and the subsequent resignation of then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

However, An IMF bailout of $2.9 billion has stabilized the economy, and essential supplies like food, fuel, and medicines are no longer experiencing shortages.

( with input from agency)