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PTI | | Posted by Zarafshan Shiraz, Colombo
1000’s of Russians and Ukrainians staying in Sri Lanka on prolonged visas as a result of conflict have been requested to depart the island nation inside two weeks, officers stated.
The immigration controller has issued a discover to the Tourism Ministry that the Russian and Ukrainian vacationers should go away the nation inside two weeks from February 23 as their visas have lapsed, they stated.
Nevertheless, President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s workplace issued a discover that claims he has ordered an investigation as to how the choice to ask them to depart had been made with out a cupboard resolution to revoke the earlier extension of keep.
The President’s Media Division stated that the Sri Lankan authorities has not formally determined to revoke the visa extensions beforehand granted to those vacationers.
Russian and Ukrainian vacationers had been allowed prolonged stays within the nation as a result of conflict breaking out between the 2 European nations. Almost 300,000 Russians and 20,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Sri Lanka because the outbreak of the conflict in 2022.
Nevertheless, the variety of vacationers at present residing on the island nation on prolonged visas will not be accessible.
Authorities stated the choice to permit them longer stays was then made due to flight shortages.
Immigration authorities stated there have been complaints of abuse of vacationer visas by Russian and Ukrainian nationals operating unlawful companies, using foreigners, and deploying cost strategies for companies bypassing native techniques.
This story has been revealed from a wire company feed with out modifications to the textual content. Solely the headline has been modified.