By Ajith Siriwardana

The Foreign Ministry is closely monitoring the situation over the Sri Lankan citizens who are residing in Ukraine and would take necessary action to evacuate them in the event of any emergency, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

An official from the Ministry told Daily Mirror that approximately forty Sri Lankans including seven students were residing in Ukraine at present.

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Ankara in Turkey was closely monitoring any developments in Ukraine and would take necessary action in the event of any emergency, the official said.

Many countries including the US and the UK have urged their citizens to leave Ukraine amid warnings that an invasion by Russia could be imminent. 

• Many countries including the US and the UK have urged their citizens to leave Ukraine amid warnings that an invasion by Russia could be imminent