Sri Lankan ambassador in Russia summoned and admonished

Russia has expressed displeasure over Sri Lanka detaining an Aeroflot flight.

Sri Lankan ambassador in Russia Janitha Abeywickrama was called to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday (03) and informed accordingly.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed their stand via a press release as well.

The Aeroflot flight is currently grounded at the BIA, due to non-payment of insurance premiums to an Irish company.

This is despite the written agreement between Russia and Sri Lanka high level officials to not detain any Russian flight, under any circumstances.

The most of amount of tourists in recent times has been from Russia and over 400,000 Russian tourists are expected during this winter season.

The flight in question too had 250 Russian tourists on board.

Difficulties have arisen for repayments to the Insurance firm in Ireland due to the Ukraine-Russia war and Russia had taken measures to re-insure its flights with a Russian insurance company.

The Irish firm had filed a petition at the Colombo Commercial High Courts in this regard and lawyers appearing on behalf of the company had arrived at the BIA on 2 June, to handover an injunction order to pilots of the aircraft, and have departed after handing it over to BIA officials.