Russia agrees not to issue visit visas to ex-Lankan servicemen without govt. nod

Russia now requires Sri Lanka’s Defence Ministry clearance before issuing visit visas for Sri Lankan ex-servicemen, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said in a post on X, on Wednesday (29).

Following a meeting with Russian Ambassador in Colombo, Levan S. Dzhagaryan, on May 29, he said they addressed the urgent situation of

Sri Lankans being deployed in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

“The Russian Ambassador agreed on immediate steps to resolve these issues,” he said.

The Minister said Sri Lanka’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya will visit Russia in the near future and this will enable further discussions to find a solution to this matter.

A number of Sri Lankan ex-servicemen are fighting in Russia – Ukraine, the government recently confirmed.  (RK)