The slow pace of Sri Lankan governance has finally gathered enough political will to publicly address the issue of Sri Lankans travelling overseas to fight in wars of other countries. Last week, following months of back door discussions, and investigations by the Government, the Sri Lankan foreign ministry and defence establishment finally made public appeal, asking veterans not to be duped into becoming cannon fodder between the Ukrainian forces, and the Russian forces.
The mercenary issue with Russia and Ukraine is not limited to Sri Lanka, with the kind of high attrition warfare which is being fought, both sides are recruiting from anywhere they can; India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and some African nations are all facing similar issues.
While action delayed is better than no action, the contemporary Sri Lankan mercenary affair, is but a symptom of a bigger problem, and one that has not been addressed diligently and dutifully by every government thus far. Sri Lanka has hundreds of thousands of veterans, many of whom have little or no secondary skill set when they leave the forces. Sri Lanka may have in terms of tactical and strategic objectives; ‘won the war in 2009’, they have however, failed those who served by not having an effective demobilisation strategy, and a post service reintegration plan. Some veterans, who have specialised skill sets have found suitable employment down ‘Civi-street’ post service, many have returned to their villages, only to struggle to fit in, and find effective employment.
Further, successive governments have failed to introduce legislation, or introduced existing clauses for the armed forces legislation, to ensure Sri Lankan veterans and those who have served, are not exploited in such a manner. The recent economic crisis has taken a toll on the thousands of veterans, making many vulnerable to be exploited by organised crime elements, and foreign actors who wish to use them for front line service. Let us hope that those who are charged with the ‘Defence Review 2030’ will identify such shortcomings, and move to address them, rather than being only fixated mantras like ‘cutting number and cutting expenditure’.
One retired army non-commissioned officer who had attempted to make the journey to Ukraine, but was turned by due to visa issues in a third country told The Daily Morning, that the key attraction, despite knowing the high risks, was twofold; first, a monthly pay of nearly Rs 800,000 or more, with an added sign up bonus, and the prospects of getting a Ukrainian passport, which he said many were made to believe will give them access to a sympathetic European Union. Another combatant, currently in Russia, told The Daily Morning that they too were lured by the promise of a high dollar wage, and ‘relatively safe – rear echelon duties. The primary driver of the current mercenary trade is – money and the promise of a stepping stone towards better prospects overseas.
Some sources put the number of ex-Sri Lankan service personnel serving under both foreign banners in the low hundreds. Some, estimate it to be higher. While the numbers who are in such mercenary service remain unverified, the Sri Lanka Police yesterday (9), put the reported death toll of Sri Lankan combatants in the Russo-Ukraine war at eight. Police Spokesperson DIG Nihal Thalduwa revealed that among the deceased war veterans, six had died in Russia and two had died in Ukraine. What action is being taken to repatriate their remains, if possible, remains unclear. The Minister of Foreign Affairs stated this week that they are in touch with their relevant counterparts from Russia and Ukraine regarding the issue.
Last week, the senior figures of the defence establishment finally broke their silence and appealed to veterans not to be dragged into ‘someone else’s war’. The Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva, the Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, General Kamal Gunaratne both made appeals to veterans regarding the lucrative, but deadly racket. Why it took the defence establishment so long to publicly address this issue, is a matter known unto themselves. However, Sri Lankan law enforcement and intelligence agencies had been tracking the issue from last year, it is reliably learnt. It is also learnt that the matter was discussed in several security forums, including the National Security Council early this year.
On Wednesday night (8) a retired Major General and a senior non-commissioned officer was arrested by the Police for ‘facilitating’ the racket. However, they are not the first ex-military personnel to be arrested over the issue. Earlier another retired Army Major was arrested regarding the same matter. It remains to be seen what charges will be filed against them. Irrespective of what legal action is taken regarding those arrested, and what action, if any, should be taken regarding those who have travelled overseas to take up armed action is a policy and legislative decision Sri Lanka will have to address quickly. Further, it remains to be seen if Sri Lanka will take any action against any involvement of any foreign diplomatic staff, without whom, such a racket could not have likely been coordinated.
The broader issue of the large veteran community, and what their future holds will remain as the elephant in the room, until someone who can muster the political will to address it, comes along. Sri Lankan veterans have given the state, their country the best years of their lives. They deserved to have better crafted policies and strategies in place to ensure they can reintegrate productively and have the welfare they deserve.