© Photograph: Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters
Russian president says West is seeking to ‘contain our development’ in Moscow speech.
Sri Lanka has decided to stop issuing free long-term visas to Russian and Ukrainian nationals who have lived in the Indian Ocean island nation for the past two years, a government official said on Thursday.
Since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Sri Lanka has allowed Russians and Ukrainians to stay in the country without paying for visas, but they will now have to pay the charges.
The rate is about $50 for a 30-day visa, if they wish to stay in Sri Lanka, public security minister Tiran Alles told Reuters.
“Whoever wants to stay back can apply for new visas,” Alles added. “They can immediately renew their visas and remain here.”
Last week immigration authorities said they were ending the free long-term visa scheme for Russian and Ukraine nationals, setting a 7 March deadline for the departure of those without new visas in a notice that sparked comment on social media.
About 300 to 400 Russians and Ukrainians are estimated to have been staying in Sri Lanka since February 2022, said Priantha Fernando, the chairman of the island’s tourism body.
“This has nothing to do with normal tourists,” Fernando said. “We are more than welcoming them … there is no issue.”
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Putin warns NATO of risk of nuclear war in a major speech to the Russian parliament
Putin also said Russia would fight back and “defeat” NATO on their territory against the threat of expansion, which he warned could trigger a nuclear war.
He said:
They are preparing to strike our territory and using the best possible forces most effective forces to do so.
But we remember the fate of those who tried to invade our territory and of course, their fate will be much more tragic than anything that we could face.
They have to understand that we also have weapons. Weapons can defeat them on their territory and of course, all this is very dangerous because it could trigger the use of nuclear weapons. Do they not understand that?
These people are people who have not been through arduous experiences. They’ve forgotten about it, but we did through the Caucasian war, for example, and now in the conflict in Ukraine.
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has said the West is attempting to “destroy us” and to “contain our development” in his annual address to parliament.
He said:
The so called West with its so colonialist tendencies is striving not only to contain our development but they are intent on destroying us and using our space for whatever their purposes are including Ukraine.
They are absolutely determined to introduce division among us and weaken us …
Citizens of Russia will defend our freedom and independence. It is only down to you that our way will be determined for the future.
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