Category: News

Sri Lanka’s defence ministry has so far received 280 complaints from family members of citizens who have been recruited to fight in the Russia-Ukraine warfront by mercenary companies, State Minister of Defense, Premitha Bandara Tennakoon said.

So far 16 persons have been confirmed dead, he told reporters in Colombo.

Sri Lanka’s Defence Ministry set up a hotline for family to members to lodge complaints after a few returnees exposed the deadly conditions facing mostly ex-soldiers who left to fight mainly for Russia.

No bodies recovered

Sri Lanka authorities have confirmed that 16 persons have died, Minister Tennakoon said.

But there was no information on their remains.

Local media reports quoting returnees and social media messages from Sri Lankans fighting in the Russia-Ukraine front said many more were dead from Ukrainian drone attacks.

On Tuesday a group of family members came to the Russian embassy in Colombo.

Sri Lanka’s Derana Television interviewed a woman who said her husband, who had served in the commando regiment had left for Russia on March 05 and last sent her message on March 29 his phone was taken away, and that completed a training course on March 28.

He had promised to call back in ‘a day or two’ but she had not heard from him since.

Another former commando, had later messaged a friend saying that her husband, Vishnu had died in a drone attack and pass the message to her her.

“Vishnu died on April 18,” the friend said according to the message broadcast on Derana Television. “A whole set, a boy called Silva from Galle who came with me, a Special Forces soldier called Chathura and Priyantha from Matara died.”

“A suicide drone hit their amoured car. Only Ratnayake was left.”

“No bodies are recovered. Their bodies are not brought, our bodies are also not brought.”

ECONOMYNEXT- Sri Lanka’s defence ministry has so far received 280 complaints from family members of citizens who have been recruited to fight in the Russia-Ukraine warfront by mercenary companies, State Minister of Defense, Premitha Bandara Tennakoon said.

So far 16 persons have been confirmed dead, he told reporters in Colombo.

Sri Lanka’s Defence Ministry set up a hotline for family to members to lodge complaints after a few returnees exposed the deadly conditions facing mostly ex-soldiers who left to fight mainly for Russia.

No bodies recovered

Sri Lanka authorities have confirmed that 16 persons have died, Minister Tennakoon said.

But there was no information on their remains.

Local media reports quoting returnees and social media messages from Sri Lankans fighting in the Russia-Ukraine front said many more were dead from Ukrainian drone attacks.

On Tuesday a group of family members came to the Russian embassy in Colombo.

Sri Lanka’s Derana Television interviewed a woman who said her husband, who had served in the commando regiment had left for Russia on March 05 and last sent her message on March 29 his phone was taken away, and that completed a training course on March 28.

He had promised to call back in ‘a day or two’ but she had not heard from him since.

Another former commando, had later messaged a friend saying that her husband, Vishnu had died in a drone attack and pass the message to her her.

“Vishnu died on April 18,” the friend said according to the message broadcast on Derana Television. “A whole set, a boy called Silva from Galle who came with me, a Special Forces soldier called Chathura and Priyantha from Matara died.”

“A suicide drone hit their amoured car. Only Ratnayake was left.”

“No bodies are recovered. Their bodies are not brought, our bodies are also not brought.”

How Many

Sri Lanka still does not know how many were recruited, though returnees have estimated that 600 to 800 have left since late last year. What was a trickle in the last quarter of 2023 became a flood in 2024, according to returnees.

One returnee said 15 to 20 visas were issued daily by the Russian embassy in Colombo in the week he got his visa.

He was asked whether it was not possible to track from the immigration data base, who left and did not return to the country within a week or two as tourists would normally be expected to do.

“They use different countries to go to Russia so it’s very tricky,” Tennakoon told reporters.

For example, some are leaving for Russia via Dubai he said.

Attempts are being made to bring back those who are injured and those who want to come back, he said.

Related Hundreds of Sri Lankans hospitalised in Russia-Ukraine war; legislator seeks special envoy

“Russia is a very important friend to us, so is Ukraine,” Tennakoon said. “It’s a diplomatic process and the foreign ministry is handling it.”

Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said that since Sri Lankans are recruited by mercenary companies it was difficult to negotiate with them.

Sri Lanka has already arrested two military officers who are running a recruitment team.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe invited former minister Dayasiry Jayasekera and Gamini Waleboda PM to the recent Security Council meeting. They both provided the information they had with them and that will be used for the investigations going forward.

Returnees said there were several teams recruiting, who were charging various amounts ranging from 350,000 to 1.6 million rupees before their were sent to the war front.

The Mullivaikkal Commemoration Committee invited Tamils from across the homeland to gather at the Mullivaikkal Memorial site on May 18, and commemorate the tens and thousands of Tamils massacred by Sri Lankan security forces.

Speaking at a media briefing at the Mullaitivu Press Club, the organisers said that this year will be the 15th year since the end of the armed conflict which saw generations of Tamil families being wiped out, thousands dead, and many still missing to date.

They added that despite the intimidation and threats, all plans are afoot to hold the commemoration this year as they have held it the year before. The event is expected to begin at 7am and be held until noon.

“We urge our people not to bring any items for the commemoration,” said the organisasers. “We will conduct a special service and invite everyone to come by 7am.”

Last year thousands of Tamils gathered at Mullivaikkal to mark the commemoration. A Tamil woman who had lost 13 of her relatives in Mullivaikkal in May 2009 lit a lamp to begin the commemoration event.

This week Tamil women distributing Mullivaikkal kanji in Sampur were arrested and remanded until May 27.

Claiming that relatives and comrades have a right to commemorate the war dead, NPP MP Vijitha Herath said today that the government must take steps to protect their rights.

Speaking during the adjournment debate on the Palestine war, he said relatives and comrades of those who were killed in civil wars in Sri Lanka have a right to commemorate the war dead and condemned the arrest of three females and a male in Sampur for holding a commemoration event in remembrance of the Mullivaikkal war dead.

The MP said United Nations declared a day for commemoration of the dead in the Nakba incident and similarly Sri Lankans also have a right to commemorate those dead in civil wars.

He said right to commemorate war dead is a right accepted internationally and added that the right should be ensured in Sri Lanka as well.

In 2008, 11 Tamil and Muslim youths living in Colombo and its suburbs were kidnapped for ransom.

After all three Attorney Generals had decided that the former Navy Commander Wasantha Karnagoda could be named as a defendant in the disappearance incident, it was problematic for the then Attorney General to not pursue the related charges against Wasantha Karnagoda after 2019 and advocated for the relatives of the disappeared. On May 13, he made a presentation when the case was called in view of the appeal.

The petition filed by the former Navy Commander Wasantha Karnagoda requesting to nullify the decision of the Attorney General to name him as a defendant in a case being heard before a three-judge bench of the Colombo High Court regarding the abduction and disappearance of 11 youths in Colombo and its suburbs in 2008 was called before the Court of Appeal. The lawyer mentioned this.

The relevant petition was called before Court of Appeal Judge Mohammad Lafar Tahir.

The Attorney General’s decision to not press charges

At that time, President’s Attorney Romesh De Silva, who appeared for the petitioner Wasantha Karnagoda, made his comments before the Court of Appeal.

“Sir, the Attorney General decided on August 8, 2021 not to continue the charge sheets filed against the former Navy Commander in relation to this incident. Accordingly, the Attorney General has informed the three-judge bench of the High Court hearing the case. Against my client “The Court of Appeal has already issued a restraining order suspending the proceedings before the Colombo High Court. If the Attorney General withdraws the charge sheet filed against my client from the High Court, a decision can be taken regarding not continuing this petition,” said Wasantha Karnagoda, who appeared for the petitioner. The lawyer said.

‘The change in the position of the Attorney General after 2019 is problematic’

Lawyer Nuwan Bopage, who represented the relatives of the missing youths, objected to this request of the petitioners.

“Sir, I strongly oppose this request. All three Attorney Generals had decided that the charges against the petitioner Mr. Wasantha Karnagoda could be maintained. But after 2019, the position of the Attorney General has changed. This is an unacceptable situation. Please be given the opportunity to present facts in this regard. I request,” lawyer Nuwan Bopage requested from the court.

Speaking at that time, Judge Lafar addressed the aggrieved party’s lawyer and said, “The Attorney General is empowered to file charges against a defendant. Accordingly, if the Attorney General decides not to pursue charges against a defendant, it is an admission that there is no real case against him.”

In that case, the judge asked the aggrieved party’s lawyer if there is any result in continuing this writ petition.

There is no decision from the High Court’

At that time, Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle, who appeared for the Attorney General, presented the following facts before the court.

“Sir, the decision taken by the Attorney General not to pursue the indictment against the petitioner has been communicated to the three-member High Court bench that is hearing the case. However, the concerned bench has not yet issued any orders regarding the position of the Attorney General.”

President’s lawyer Romesh de Silva, who appeared for Wasantha Karnagoda, requested the court to give two weeks’ time to notify the decision to be taken regarding this petition, and the petitioner party continues to point out the facts and tries to continue this petition and is strongly against it. Nuwan Bopage, the lawyer of the aggrieved party, stated again before the court. Lawyer Bopage further said that injustice will be done to the aggrieved parties and justice will be delayed for them.

Judge Lafar pointed out to the aggrieved party’s lawyer, ‘Will the petition continue? Or will the petitioner be withdrawn until the 3rd of June to decide?

The judge stated in the open court that if the petitioner does not give a decision in this regard by that date, he will proceed to give a decision on the petition.

‘For 15 years, we have been going to court to get this justice in tears’

The mother of one of the 11 missing youths related to this case commented to BBC Sinhala. Jennifer Weerasinghe was just 24 years old when her son disappeared, and five young men, including her son, were abducted together.

“There is clear evidence related to the incident in which five children including my child were kidnapped. It was not us who leveled these charges against Wasantha Karnagoda, but the Attorney General’s Department. Similarly, the investigations were conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department. When we go to the May 13 case, the Attorney General who is supposed to represent us is representing the accused. That’s what we felt,” she says.

She asks how they can believe that justice will be done in the case when they cannot trust the Attorney General. “A total of 667 charges and 200 witnesses have been presented to the court. We have been going to the courts for 15 years to get justice.”

“If Vasantha Karnagoda is not really involved in this incident, he can come to the court like a good gentleman and prove his innocence. But as a mother who lost her child in this way by filing petitions and dragging them out, I also think that he has blood on his hands,” said Jennifer.

“Now, his lawyers said in the court that day that they will discuss with the client and inform the court whether they will withdraw this writ petition. So why did this case drag on for four years? Didn’t the Attorney General make the indictments knowingly? Who is responsible for our tears? Who Justice for us?”

Jennifer said that she hopes that she and the other children’s parents will get a just decision as victims on June 3rd.

“On June 03, we hope that the Attorney General will take the right decision to represent us. We can only trust the court now. Therefore, we hope that justice will be done for the tears we shed for 15 years through the court.”

In relation to the kidnapping and disappearance of 11 Tamil and Muslim youths living in Colombo and its suburbs in 2008, the Attorney General filed a case before a three-judge bench of the Colombo High Court against 14 people including Navy Intelligence officers during the previous Good Governance government.

Former Navy Commander Wasantha Karnagoda was named as the 14th defendant in the case, and DKP Dasanayake, a former media spokesperson of the Navy, was also named as a defendant.

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader Rauff Hakeem has called on the Sri Lanka Government to suspend diplomatic ties with Israel for committing “genocide” in Palestine.

He told Parliament the Government must take a bold stand on the issue like certain other countries.

The MP said that Sri Lanka must call for action on Israel in the international criminal court.

Hakeem also accused the Ranil Wickremesinghe administration of becoming virtual “slaves” to the US.

The opposition MP accused the Biden administration in the US of giving Israel bombs to destroy the entire Gaza strip.

State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya responded expressing regret over the attitude of the MP.

He said that while the MP may want to cut ties with Israel, Sri Lanka will do what is best for the country.

According to the United Nations, almost 450,000 Palestinians have fled from Rafah over the past week as Israeli tanks reportedly push deeper into the southern Gaza city.

“People face constant exhaustion, hunger and fear,” warned the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa.

Israel’s military says it is continuing “operations against terror targets” in the east of the city, where more than a million people had been sheltering.

New Israeli operations in northern Gaza have displaced another 100,000 people.

The military ordered civilians to evacuate eastern Rafah and Jabalia for their own safety before starting the assaults, but the total of those displaced in recent days is equivalent to almost a quarter of Gaza’s 2.3 million population.

Israel launched a military campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the group’s cross-border attack on southern Israel on 7 October, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 252 others were taken hostage.

More than 35,170 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.