SL to investigate number of Lankans serving in Russia-Ukraine front

Special delegation to Russia to probe SL mercenaries

President Ranil Wickremesinghe Thursday said that a special delegation would be sent to Russia to ascertain the number of Lankan mercenaries serving in the armies of those two nations.

“We are yet to find the exact number of Lankans serving on the Russia-Ukraine front. Some say there are 100 Lankans serving there while others say the number could be as high as 400. We are yet to ascertain the exact number. We plan to send a special team to those countries to find details.

“We know that some ex-servicemen are there but their families do not tell the truth to authorities here as long as these soldiers keep in touch with them over the phone. Only when they lose contact that the family members come complaining to police and seeking government help to trace them,” the president said at a meeting with a group of journalists held at the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday.

Responding to questions on Lankan mercenaries serving in Russia-Ukraine front, the president said that it has not yet been established under whom the Lankan mercenaries are serving. “Most probably they must be serving under Russian mercenary companies such as Wagner. If they serve the companies, then the Russian government may not have concerns.

“It is also said that some of these ex-servicemen are given citizenship of those countries. That would then further complicate the situation. Then there are some who are said to be serving Ukraine. We first have to find the exact number and their status there. Then only can we determine what should be done in this regard,” the president said.