NEW DELHI, March 4. /TASS/. Russians and Ukrainians who have been in Sri Lanka since February 2022 will need to apply for a visa or leave the country before March 7, the Daily Mirror newspaper reported citing the country’s Public Security Minister Tiran Alles.

It concerns citizens who, until recently, used a simplified procedure allowing free extension of a tourist visa for 30 days (via an online application or visiting an immigration office), which was introduced on February 28, 2022, after the start of the special military operation in Ukraine. As the reason the Sri-Lankan authorities cited difficulties in air communication between Sri Lanka and Russia and Ukraine amid hostilities and sanctions.

According to Alles, now "the free visa facility granted to them will not be extended and they must comply with immigration regulations by applying for fresh visas."

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) also posted information on its website according to which the free visa extension for Russian and Ukrainian tourists expired on February 23, 2024.

"Free visa extension for Russian and Ukrainian tourists expire on February 23, 2024. Grace period of 14 days, which will expire on March 7, 2024, granted for them to extend visa following the formal process or arrange the return to their country," the statement says.

According to SLDTA, approximately 300-400 Russians and Ukrainians have been in Sri Lanka since February 2022. The visa fee is about $50 for a 30-day stay in the country. The authorities decided to cancel the free extension of visas, as air traffic has improved.

Earlier, the office of Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the country's Cabinet did not make a decision to suspend the free extension of tourist visas for citizens of Russia and Ukraine and ordered an investigation into the notification [of the immigration department] that was distributed without the prior approval of the Cabinet of Ministers that Russian and Ukrainian tourists must leave the country within 14 days. As Minister Alles explained, the previously issued order for Russian and Ukrainian tourists to leave the country within 14 days was drawn up incorrectly. According to him, what is meant is that they need to obtain visas or leave the country.