Sri Lanka has announced the end of long-term tourist visa extensions for thousands of Russians and Ukrainians who have been using the policy to live on the island since Moscow's attack on Ukraine. The government has stated that it will not grant further visa extensions and has given a deadline of March 7 for departure. Over the past two years, more than 288,000 Russians and nearly 20,000 Ukrainians have visited Sri Lanka, but it is unclear how many stayed longer than the usual 30-day tourist visa. The decision comes as a social media backlash occurred against a Russian-run nightclub that organized a 'whites-only' party in the southern coastal resort town of Unawatuna. Sri Lanka implemented the policy of granting 30-day visas on arrival to boost tourism and recover from its worst economic crisis since mid-2022. An IMF bailout of $2.9 billion has helped stabilize the economy [bba957bf].
The Sri Lankan government's decision to end long-term visa extensions for Russians and Ukrainians is a response to the political situation between Russia and Ukraine. The move aims to prevent individuals from using Sri Lanka as a base to live and work while avoiding the conflict in their home countries. Sri Lanka has been a popular destination for Russian and Ukrainian tourists, with hundreds of thousands of visitors from these countries in the past two years. However, the government has now made it clear that it will not grant further visa extensions and has set a deadline for departure. This decision is part of Sri Lanka's efforts to regulate its visa policy and ensure that tourists comply with the intended purpose of their visit. The government's decision also comes in the wake of a social media backlash against a Russian-run nightclub that organized a controversial 'whites-only' party. Sri Lanka's visa policy, which includes granting 30-day visas on arrival, was implemented to boost tourism and revive the country's economy, which has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and other economic challenges. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has provided a bailout of $2.9 billion to help stabilize Sri Lanka's economy [bba957bf].
In other news, a Sri Lankan family has illegally entered India and sought refuge. The family, consisting of R Murugananthan, 45, his wife Rita Mary, 46, and their two children, entered India near Dhanushkodi in the Ramanathapuram district. They arrived on Friday night by boarding an illegal ferry from Sri Lanka and were dropped off on a sand dune at Arichalmunai. Indian Coast Guard personnel brought the family to Mandapam and handed them over to the Mandapam marine police. The family fled their country due to the economic crisis and were sent to the Mandapam rehabilitation camp. This incident brings the total number of Sri Lankan nationals arriving at Rameswaram to 298 [e6c31e25].
Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his wife, and their grandson have embarked on a three-nation private tour. They will visit Indonesia, Singapore, and the UAE before returning on May 21. Vijayan's daughter Veena Vijayan and her husband, state minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas, are already in the UAE and will join the Chief Minister during the trip. The family will be in Indonesia until May 12, then fly to Singapore, and return to the UAE on May 18 before coming back to India on May 21. The trip was not officially announced as it is a private one [ffff6054].