At least eight (08) Sri Lankan war veterans have died while fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war, Police investigations have confirmed.
Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa revealed that among the deceased war veterans, six had died in Russia and two had died in Ukraine.
He further said that Police investigations have revealed that 83 Sri Lankan war veterans have so far been sent to Russia and Ukraine by human traffickers.
DIG Thalduwa said that among them 60 had been sent to Russia and 23 to Ukraine to be deployed in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
The Police have launched a probe into the deployment of Sri Lankan war veterans as mercenaries to fight in the Russia – Ukraine war after several human trafficking rackets were recently busted in Sri Lanka.
This week, officials from the Criminal Investigations Department arrested a former Army Major General and a Sergeant Major for operating a human trafficking racket to deploy war veterans to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Previously, two persons, including an Army Major General, were also arrested and remanded for their involvement in a similar human trafficking racket.
Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence also confirmed that a number of its retired war veterans have died or sustained injuries after being sent to the Russian-Ukrainian war front as members of mercenary groups.
The Defence Ministry said several retired war veterans had been caught in a scheme by some illegal foreign job agents and had been sent to the Russian-Ukrainian war front as members of mercenary groups. (Newswire)