In an unfolding story, Sri Lanka has committed to investigate the alleged involvement of hundreds of Sri Lankan nationals in the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Responding to this growing concern, a top official recently informed that Sri Lanka is deploying a high-level delegation to Russia.
Earlier this month, as per State Minister for Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya, Sri Lankan authorities had initiated an investigation into media reports that individuals with military training were trafficked to fight in Ukraine. Despite unofficial figures suggesting the presence of 600,800 Sri Lankans in Russia, providing a precise estimation proves challenging.
According to the Sri Lankan Defence Ministry, the engagement of potential recruits via social media campaigns, chiefly on WhatsApp, has raised substantial concerns. These campaigns, reportedly carried out by Sri Lankan nationals, focus on retired military personnel, offering substantial remuneration and citizenship promises.
This recruitment drive is situated amidst Sri Lanka’s severe financial crisis, the gravest in over seventy years, contributing to soaring poverty levels and mass migration compared to pre-pandemic times. Families of around 288 Sri Lankan individuals, alleged to have illegally joined the Ukraine conflict, have filed complaints to the government. Investigations have led to the arrest of seven individuals, including a retired major general, implicated in this human trafficking network. Distressingly, at least 16 ex-military personnel have lost their lives in Ukraine.
In a forthcoming step towards resolution, Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne and a former ambassador to Russia are soon to leave for Russia with a delegation to directly address these issues.