Lankans studying in Crimea are safe

Amid mounting tension in Crimea in the troubled Ukraine, the Government said yesterday Sri Lankan officials in Moscow were in constant touch with Crimean University authorities on the safety of at least 13 Sri Lankan students studying there.

“We are touch with the university authorities on the safety of the Sri Lankan students there and we see no immediate need to get them back or relocate them just yet. We are closely monitoring the situation,” an External Affairs Ministry Spokesman told Daily Mirror online and added that no Sri Lankans in Ukraine had been affected so far.

He said Sri Lankan embassy officials based in Moscow contacted the Crimean University authorities after a student informed about some 13 Sri Lankan students studying at the Crimean University in Ukraine.

The spokesman said there were not many Sri Lankans in cities like Lugansk, Donetsk and Kharkov. Anyway our officials in Moscow will be ready to take action with regard to their safety if they so request.

Meanwhile issuing a statement External Affairs Ministry stated that the Sri Lanka Embassy in Moscow which is concurrently accredited to Ukraine has been constantly monitoring the situation to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Sri Lankans in Ukraine.  The Embassy has informed that there are 20 Sri Lankan students currently studying at the Crimea State Medical University in Simferopol, who are in direct contact with it.
 
 The Sri Lankan Ambassador to the Russian Federation Udayanga Weeratunga had personally contacted the Pro Rector for Foreign Relations of the University to check on the welfare of the Sri Lankan students. The Pro Rector has assured the Ambassador of the safety and security of the Sri Lankan students who are resident in the University hostels. Moreover, the University and the hostels are not located in close proximity to the areas of unrest. Hence, there is no need for any panic and the situation does not warrant any plans to evacuate the students, the statement added.