Sri Lanka is canceling visas for Russians and some Ukrainians who are in the country to avoid the war. According to the immigration service in the country, Russian citizens must leave within the next two weeks, as reported by the Independent.
Official data indicates that over the past two years, since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine, slightly more than 288,000 Russians have arrived in Sri Lanka. The exact number of Russian tourists who have extended their stay beyond the 30-day duration of a tourist visa remains unclear.
The Ministry of Tourism of Sri Lanka reports receiving complaints about some Russian tourists engaging in unregistered and illegal business in the southern part of the country.
“This has happened against the backdrop of a wildly negative reaction on social media to Russian businesses practicing a ‘whites-only’ policy. These businesses include bars, restaurants, water sports, and rental services,” the publication stated.
