(COLOMBO) – 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 latest Sri Lankan casualty in the war was identified as Nipuna Silva who was killed in a Ukrainian attack on a Russian bunker in the Donetsk region.
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.
The Sri Lankans are lured to the battle field with the prospect of earning wages that range around US$ 3,000 per month, officials said.
It was only at the start of this week that a local foreign employment agency was busted for allegedly recruiting some 53 Sri Lankans to fight in the Ukraine-Russian war.
