Former Sri Lankan Ambassador ro Russia Udayanga Weeratnga vowed that he would not stop the current project of facilitating Ukrainian tourists to Sri Lanka.

Weeratunga's project has come under severe criticism from many quaraters for alleged violation of quarantine laws and health practices adopted by health authorities.

Weeratunga said Ukrainian tourists came to Sri Lanka based on the trust they had placed in him.

The former Ambassador, a close relative of the Rajapaksa family, pointed out that around 2 million people in the country make a living from the tourism industry and if those businesses are shut down, those people will become helpless.

He further added that the project was initiated under the blessings of President Gotabhaya Rakapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Minister Basil Rajapaksa.