A video which allegedly shows Sri Lankan nationals involved with the Russian military in the ongoing Ukraine–Russia conflict has shifted the spotlight back on Sri Lankan mercenaries fighting overseas. Some media reports have pointed to ‘hundreds of Sri Lankans’ serving in Russian ranks, an allegation which is yet to be verified.
The issue first came to light last year, when an ex- Sri Lanka Army soldier, the member of Ukraine’s ‘Foreign Legion’ was killed in action. Recruiting foreign nationals to fight for both sides of the conflict is nothing new. In the South Asian region, there are reports that many Indian and Nepali nationals have also been recruited on the pretence of playing a rear-echelon role in logistics by Russia, only to find themselves thrust to the frontlines for direct combat. Recent reports of both Russia and Ukraine struggling to replenish their depleted ranks of combatants, may see such recruitment increase in the near future.
The issue highlights two key crises which the Sri Lankan armed forces and the employment market faces. First, many former armed forces personnel are finding the economic pressures post economic crisis hard to bear, and are seeking employment overseas, like many Sri Lankans have. Secondly, the Sri Lanka defence establishment has been plagued with a legacy issue of not having a proper demobilisation plan, post conflict.
Recently, The Sri Lanka Army told The Sunday Morning that there is no agreement between the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and the Russian Army to send Sri Lankan soldiers to serve in Russia. This after some online news outlets began pushing a narrative that implied SL-Russian collusion to supply combat manpower. Army Spokesperson Maj. Gen. K.A.N. Rasika Kumara told The Sunday Morning that there was no agreement between the SLA and the Russian Army. “The Army is not involved in this. The ones who left the Army (left the service) may have gone on a personal basis. No soldiers who are currently serving have gone,” said Maj. Gen. Kumara. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is aware of this situation and is attempting to help those who require consular assistance, it is learnt.
Sources at the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) said that recruiting Sri Lankan nationals to fight in the wars of other countries was illegal and agents who were currently doing so were operating without the approval of the SLBFE. It is reliably learnt that the issue, for Sri Lankans fighting for Ukraine and Russia, was recently taken up at the National Security Council, where directions had been given to law enforcement agencies to closely monitor the issue, and to apprehend persons involved in recruiting for both sides of the conflict. A senior Foreign Ministry official told The Daily Morning that the SLBFE had also been instructed to revoke the licence of any foreign employment agency which promotes such recruitment. The Sri Lanka Police had recently arrested several persons, including a husband and wife couple, for allegedly being involved in such a racket.
The issue of ex-Sri Lankan armed forces personnel serving with foreign militaries has been resurfacing on and off from the early 2000’s. Many Sri Lankan ex-service personnel were employed and continued to be employed with numerous Private Military Contractors (PMCs) and as private ‘Sea Marshals’ on board commercial vessels, after the conflict ended in 2009. It must be noted, that no one in Sri Lanka or outside made much of an issue about Lankans working for PMCs, in war torn Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and in the Middle East–North Africa region, during the 2000 – 2020 period. The same can be said about those who work as Sea Marshals, who incidentally due to the Red Sea issue and the resurgent piracy activities, have become highly sought after today.
The Sri Lankan defence establishment urgently needs to beef up the exit strategy for their service personnel, as many soldiers leave the armed forces, with skill sets which are in demand in the current local job market. Many get frustrated with being unable to find employment after 12 years or 22 years of service. Furthermore, there is the issue of nearly 30,000 deserters who are unemployed and cannot seek legitimate employment in Sri Lanka due to their legal status. It would be prudent if the Government and especially the defence establishment, which is currently undergoing a review, to identify current trends in local and overseas job markets, and train service personnel who are nearing legal demobilisation with the necessary skills to enable them to find employment opportunities. The failure to do so, and the colossal issue of deserters, who only have well-horned combat skills at their disposal, is evident in the sporadic gun crime sprees which spike on and off each year. It is also important for other state stakeholders, like the Ministry of Labour and the SLBFE to identify key foreign labour markets and help service personnel who wish to travel overseas, obtain the necessary skill set and linguistic skills to succeed.