The former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga, stated that he is ready to repatriate the retired Sri Lankan armed forces personnel sent to Russia and Ukraine as mercenaries if the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) invites him to get involved in the matter.
Speaking at a press conference held yesterday (15), he noted that the GoSL can repatriate those soldiers after having diplomatic discussions with the Russian Government, even though certain individuals in the Government claim that it has no way to intervene in the matter as those retired soldiers have been sent there without any notification of the GoSL. Weeratunga alleged that these individuals have been recruited into those mercenary groups with the support of the Russian Government, even though they have not been involved in getting them into Russia.
He also said that this needs a bilateral intervention to resolve the matter, where he can be involved if the GoSL requests him to do so. “I can bring them back. The Government, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, should get involved. As a former Ambassador to Russia, I can make the necessary arrangements. It is not a big issue and will take only a few minutes.”
Meanwhile, addressing the media at a press briefing held at the Presidential Media Centre, the State Minister of Defence, Premitha Bandara Tennakoon noted that several suspects, including a retired high ranking Army officer, have been attested by the Criminal Investigations Department thus far in connection with this human smuggling and trafficking racket. He also said that investigations are being carried out further to disclose the parties behind the racket.
Meanwhile, Opposition Parliamentarian Gamini Waleboda urged the Speaker of the Parliament to appoint a Parliamentary Select Committee to look into the matter. Speaking to The Daily Morning on Tuesday (14), Waleboda said that the Government should act immediately to repatriate former Sri Lankan soldiers who have been sent to Russia and Ukraine in a context where the threat to their lives increases day by day. He also said that a number of MPs, including himself, receive dozens of calls from those soldiers and their relatives requesting the authorities to save their lives.
Waleboda also noted that the issue is more severe than it looks and that therefore, the Ministry of Defence and the other authorities must actively engage with the Russian authorities to get these ‘helpless’ soldiers back. He also said that around 600-700 soldiers have reportedly been sent to Russia as mercenaries, according to sources. Hence, he urged the Government to initiate a programme in this regard and to focus on implementing policies to use the retired military workforce for the country’s development.
Over the course of last month (April), families of Sri Lankans victims caught up in the mercenary racket have aired their grievances, with some calling on politicians and the law enforcement authorities to investigate the matter and help repatriate those affected in the frontlines of the Russian-Ukrainian war.