Families Plead for Return of Sri Lankan Mercenaries

COLOMBO (News 1st); Family members of Sri Lankans currently serving as mercenaries in Russia staged a protest outside the Russian Embassy in Colombo on Tuesday (29)

Their demand is urgent: they seek assistance in repatriating their loved ones who are facing various challenges.

A group of concerned families implored for urgent intervention to bring back their trapped relatives from Russia, currently serving as mercenaries in the frontlines.

Among those present were Members of Parliament Dayasiri Jayasekara and Gamini Valeboda, who stood in solidarity with the demonstrators.

"They may lose their lives at any given moment. We urgently need to bring these individuals back to Sri Lanka as soon as possible. Additionally, many of them have mortgages on their homes and land. To make matters worse, their pensions have been abolished," said one family member.

"Our fathers remain alone in that country, having been deceived. We don't even know if they are still there, as many have fallen silent. Please bring back our fathers," said another.

The group delivered a memorandum to the Russian Embassy.

During this diplomatic encounter, several individuals had the opportunity to meet with the Russian Ambassador.

" (Ambassador) Levan Dzhagaryan met with relatives of Sri Lankan mercenaries involved into the conflict in Ukraine. He also received Hon MPs Dayasiri Jayasekara and Gamini Waleboda. In response to the expressed preoccupations regarding the situation the Russian Ambassador promised to provide as much assistance as possible," said the Russian Embassy in Colombo in a post on Facebook.

On May 16th, Sri Lanka's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya announced that President Ranil Wickremesinghe has issued directives for the dispatch of a specialized delegation to Russia to investigate the welfare of Sri Lankans amidst the on-going Russian-Ukraine war.

According to the state minister, this delegation will include the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, a former Ambassador to Russia, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with plans for prompt departure to Russia.

State Minister Balasuriya made this announcement during a press briefing titled ‘Collective Path to a Stable Country,’ held at the President Media Centre (PMC)

According to a statement posted on the website of the President's Media Division, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence are collaborating on a census of Sri Lankans caught amidst the Russian-Ukrainian war.

It has been revealed that certain Sri Lankans entered Russia on tourist visas. Among them, were a significant number of retired military personnel who served in the tri-forces in Sri Lanka.

The statement said that the primary challenge lies in determining the exact number of individuals in Russia. As per unofficial sources, approximately 600, 800 Sri Lankan individuals are in Russia.

However, a pressing issue remains, which is the lack of specific information regarding the exact locations where these individuals are residing in Russia, it added.

"Based on available information, it has come to our attention that smugglers have deceitfully transported individuals to Russia, attracting them with false promises such as the prospect of acquiring Russian citizenship. This is definitely human trafficking. Furthermore, reports indicate the involvement of a senior military officer in this incident. It is imperative to accurately assess the situation and halt the dispatch of personnel to Russia," the State Minister was quoted by the PMD.

He had noted that thereafter, diplomatic discussions should be held to facilitate the return of those already in Russia back to Sri Lanka.

Despite the Minister of Foreign Affairs being overseas, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed the formation of the delegation to investigate the situation of Sri Lankans affected by the Russian-Ukraine war, added the statement.

This delegation, consisting of officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and the former Ambassador to Russia, is expected to be dispatched to Russia, with official notification to be provided to the Russian Embassy regarding this initiative.

A day later, Ukrainian media reported that Ukrainian Armed Forces managed to capture mercenaries from Sri Lanka in the area of Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region.

The spokesperson for the operational-strategic group of troops Khortytsia, Lieutenant Colonel Nazar Voloshyn, stated that the Ukrainian Armed Forces managed to capture mercenaries from Sri Lanka in the area of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk region.

The Ukrainian media report noted that the Russian army faces a shortage of personnel for the war against Ukraine due to the significant losses it suffers on the battlefield. Therefore, the Kremlin is recruiting mercenaries from other countries to bolster its occupation forces.

Reports have emerged from various parts of Sri Lanka regarding former members of the armed forces who have gone missing after being deployed to Russia.

Thirteen individuals, including retired Sergeant Major Thushara Sampath Weerakkodi, left for Russia on February 16th.

Relatives state that there has been no communication from any of the 13 individuals since March 12th.

The situation remains concerning, and their last online presence was on that date.

"My husband was sent for overseas deployment by a person called Major Bandara from Pothuhera. He is noow is custody. There is another person called Bandula who is also involved in this. I haven't spoken to my husband since March 12th. I do not know what happened to him. I request the authorities to save the war heroes who liberated this country," said the Wife Of Sampath Weerakkodi to News 1st.

Thushara Sampath Veerakkodi, a father of two residing in Warakapola, Algama area, is among the missing Sri Lankan retired soldiers who were deployed to Russia.

The Criminal Investigation Department has arrested five individuals in connection with this human trafficking case.

Numerous complaints have been received regarding the missing soldiers.

To date, 16 retired Sri Lankan soldiers have been confirmed to have lost their lives in the Russia-Ukraine war.