(COLOMBO) – A retired Major of the Sri Lanka Army and another person was arrested for allegedly recruiting mercenaries for enlistment with the Russian army in exchange for large fees, police said on Thursday.
The pair was arrested on tip-off from the public, police said.
The most recent arrest comes barely three weeks after a local foreign employment agency was busted on March 28 for allegedly recruiting some 53 Sri Lankans to fight in the Ukraine-Russian war.
At the start of this month the Ministry of Defence announced that all members of Sri Lankan tri-forces have been advised against joining Russian or Ukrainian forces by illegal means.
The MoD also mentioned that against a background where there is no agreement between the Sri Lankan and Russian armies to send former or serving Sri Lankan military members to serve in Russia, such incidents will damage the reputation of the country.
However, a recent report published on Al Jazeera news service which quoted several Sri Lankans living in Russia, highlighted that hundreds of Sri Lankans are now serving with the Russian military in Ukraine, most lured into combat by Russia’s offer of salaries up to US$3,000 a month and the prospect of Russian citizenship.
“Many more – mostly retired Sri Lankan soldiers – are also desperately trying to join the Russian army, willing to risk death at the hands of Ukrainian forces in exchange for Moscow’s money amid dire poverty at home in Sri Lanka”, it added.
At least five former Sri Lankan soldiers have reportedly been killed so far while fighting in the Ukraine Russia war, and the authorities in Colombo are finding it hard pressed to stop the trend of mercenaries leaving the country.
According to reports at least two Sri Lankans have been killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine, and three on the Ukrainian side. But many more are willing to join the war amid desperate economic conditions at home.
The exact number of Sri Lankans fighting in the Russian – Ukraine cannot be reached but officials in Colombo believe that the number could run into dozens if not more.
The Sri Lankans, all ex-soldiers are believed to be recruited in a third country, mainly the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before being sent to the Ukraine-Russian region, by human traffickers, the officials added.
