Several more suspects have been arrested in connection with sending Sri Lankan citizens and retired war veterans to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war.
A retired Army Soldier was arrested in Monaragala yesterday for his alleged involvement in the human trafficking scheme to deploy Sri Lankans in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The Dambagalla Police had arrested the suspect on Thursday and handed him over to the Monaragala Police. The suspect is to be produced before the Monaragala Magistrate’s Court today.
The suspect was arrested following information from a group of Sri Lankans who had been scammed by the individual.
The group of Sri Lankan war veterans had returned to the island, after failing to enter Russia and had visited the suspect’s residence, after the latter had taken money in the promise of employment.
Meanwhile, two persons who had operated a foreign employment agency in Nugegoda and had reportedly sent Sri Lankans to Russia have been arrested.
The owner and the manager of the foreign employment agency were arrested by officials from the Special Investigations Unit of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE).
The two suspects were remanded until May 30 after being produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court.
The agency is reported to have received Rs.1.5 million per person and had sent them to Russia via tourist visas to be employed in the Russian Military.
Furthermore, five suspects, including a retired Major general, who were previously arrested in connection to the human trafficking racket have been further remanded until May 30 by the Negombo Magistrate’s Court.
The Sri Lankan government has also taken necessary measures to address the issue, with President Ranil Wickremesinghe directing the dispatch of a special delegation to Russia to explore the possibility of repatriating Sri Lankans who were trafficked to the country.
State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya disclosed this week that the government is currently attempting to verify the exact number of Sri Lankans who are in Russia and were reportedly fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war.
The State Minister said that unofficial reports indicate that a number between 600 to 800 Sri Lankans are currently in Russia, while close to 16 Sri Lankans have died fighting in the conflict. (Newswire)