Ukrainians stranded abroad by Russian invasion find comfort in crisis-hit Sri Lanka
- Generosity towards Ukrainians stems from memories of the island’s own experience of conflict – a decades-long civil war that ended in 2009
- Many Russian tourists are also stuck in the country, cut off from funds after US sanctions on international payment networks
As the sun dips below the Indian Ocean waves, Ukrainian tourist Viktoria Makarenko and her daughter light incense every evening at a temple in a Sri Lankan beach resort to pray for a return home.
Russia’s February invasion of the 35-year-old’s homeland has left thousands of foreign travellers from the two countries stranded on the tropical island.
But Ukrainians with empty wallets, distraught over the fate of loved ones back home, say they have been overwhelmed by support from locals – despite their own travails in the face of a worsening financial crisis.
“I love Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan people,” Makarenko said. “Everybody wants to help us.”
They were running low on cash and despairing of their predicament before locals in the resort town of Unawatuna rallied around them, offering free accommodation, food and even incense sticks to light on their daily trips to the shrine.