Colombo takes no sides in Russia Ukraine war

The government follows the fighting, but has said it will remain neutral. Moscow is among the main buyers of Sri Lankan tea. Many medical students are stranded in Kyiv. 

Colombo (AsiaNews) - Sri Lanka has diplomatic and commercial relations with both Russia and Ukraine, so at the moment it has decided not to take sides in the ongoing conflict.

Russia is one of the main buyers of Sri Lanka's "Ceylon tea", and by virtue of the relations between the two countries, Moscow has always supported Colombo in UN Human Rights Council resolutions regarding war responsibilities and post-war reconciliation on the island. At the same time, a large number of Sri Lankan medical students are stranded in Ukraine.

As several political analysts have pointed out, the rapid escalation of the war between Russia and Ukraine could have a major impact on the Sri Lankan economy: Russia and Ukraine are important markets for Sri Lanka, a country already hit by a severe dollar crisis and declining revenues in the tourism sector. Due to the pandemic, Western visitors have almost completely disappeared, but Russian and Ukrainian visitors accounted for about a quarter of total arrivals. More than 1,000 Russian and Ukrainian tourists are currently stranded in Sri Lanka because of the conflict. The government has taken extra precautions to provide them with assistance.

Sri Lanka imports about 45% of wheat from the two warring countries, from which it also obtains more than half of its national needs for oil, sunflower seeds and soya beans. It also imports asbestos, semi-finished iron and steel products. 

Sri Lankan government sources have told AsiaNews that they are "deeply concerned" about the recent escalation of violence. The governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Ajith Nivard Cabraal, hopes "that the conflict will not escalate".

A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on "all parties concerned to exercise utmost restraint and work towards an immediate cessation of hostilities in order to maintain peace, security and stability in the region". Sri Lanka also stressed the need for 'all parties concerned to make efforts' to resolve this tragedy through 'diplomacy and sincere dialogue'.

Cabinet spokesman Ramesh Pathirana says the clashes in Ukraine have 'seriously affected Sri Lanka's economy'. Oil prices could rise in the near future and some observers fear that the war could even bankrupt the country. 

Last week, a group of Ukrainian citizens protested in front of the Russian embassy against Russian President Vladimir Putin's military action in Ukraine.

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