Lankans in Ukraine in no hurry to leave; Foreign Ministry monitoring situation

With tensions between Russia and Western nations continuing to escalate over Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry has instructed Sri Lanka’s Embassy in Ankara, Turkey to closely monitor the situation and look into the interests of Sri Lankans in Ukraine.

About 40 Sri Lankans are in Ukraine, seven of them students, according to the Foreign Ministry.

More than a dozen countries have urged their citizens to leave Ukraine amid warnings from Western powers that an invasion by Russia is imminent. The US, UK and Germany are among the countries who told their nationals to leave.

Sri Lanka has no embassy in Ukraine and matters related to Sri Lankans in the country are being handled through the Sri Lankan Embassy in Turkey. A Foreign Ministry official said the Embassy in Ankara will take steps to arrange the evacuation of Sri Lankans in Ukraine if they wish to leave. However, none of the Sri Lankans have so far asked to be evacuated, he added.

It was reported yesterday that Ukraine's Russian-backed, breakaway eastern territories had ordered full military mobilisations amid an escalation in fighting.

Moscow has amassed an estimated 100,000 troops along Ukraine’s border but denies any intent to invade.