Sri Lanka has asked thousands of tourists from Russia and Ukraine (Russia-Ukraine War) to leave the island country in two weeks.

Officials said the Immigration Controller has issued a notice to the Tourism Ministry saying that Russian and Ukrainian tourists will have to leave the country within two weeks from February 23. Russian and Ukrainian tourists were allowed to stay under extended visas.

Sri Lanka has asked thousands of tourists from Russia and Ukraine to leave the island country within two weeks. About 300,000 Russians and 20,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Sri Lanka after the war between Russia and Ukraine began in 2022.

Russian and Ukrainian tourists were allowed to stay under extended visas due to the outbreak of war between the two countries.

Number of tourists staying in the country is not available

The number of tourists currently staying in the island country on extended visas is not available. Officials said the Immigration Controller has issued a notice to the Tourism Ministry saying that Russian and Ukrainian tourists will have to leave the country within two weeks from February 23. His visa has expired.

On the other hand, the office of President Ranil Wickremesinghe has issued a notice and ordered an investigation. The order calls for an inquiry into how the decision to ask them to leave the country was taken without the Cabinet decision to cancel the previous extension.