By Shamindra Ferdinando

Russia is seeking Sri Lanka’s assistance to confirm the identities of several ex-military personnel killed in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The Island  learns that Russia has requested the relevant authorities to facilitate the identification of dead personnel through DNA testing to pave the way for the payment of compensation. Russia has assured the previous government of sufficient compensation for those who had been killed and wounded in the war zone.

Ex-Sri Lankan military personnel were among those who had been recruited by Russia to meet manpower shortage following the intensification of fighting in February 2022. The conflict began in 2014 after an American engineered coup toppled the then elected government in Kiev, through what was termed the Maidan revolution.

According to sources, the payment of compensation had been held up due to the delay in confirming the identification of the dead. Russia has sought the verification of the identities of five dead personnel, sources said, adding that the total number of fatalities remained unclear. However, at least 20 ex-military personnel had been killed and several dozens wounded so far, according to some sources, though the actual number killed in the conflict could be very much higher as some ex-Lankan military personnel joined Ukrainian forces.

In the run-up to the presidential election last September, the then government sent a delegation to Russia in late June 2024 to discuss the issue. At the conclusion of the talks in Moscow, the Sri Lankan Embassy there said that Sri Lanka proposed the establishment of a joint working committee consisting of officials from the two sides to address concerns of the Sri Lankans who have been deployed.

The delegation included State Foreign Affairs Minister Tharaka Balasuriya and Defence Secretary Gen (retd.) Kamal Gunaratne. The delegation met Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of the Russian Federation, Andrey Rudenko, and the Deputy Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, Colonel General A.V. Fomin.

“Discussions with the Deputy Minister of Defence of Russia, Col. Gen Alexander Fomin, to address issues affecting Sri Lanka nationals deployed with the Russia military, including compensation for the deceased and injured, regularizing remuneration, voluntary return and early contract termination,” Balasuriya said on X (Twitter). Two Opposition lawmakers Dayasiri Jayasekera and Gamini Waleboda accompanied the delegation.

The Russians have taken up the issue with the National People’s Power (NPP) government since the parliamentary elections conducted in November.

The issue had been raised by some politicians during the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government following the revelation of deaths of Lankans in the Russian-Ukraine conflict amidst accusations that some men were tricked into signing up for Russia, sources said. However, since the last general election the issue hadn’t received attention from political parties nor the media, sources said.

By Saman Indrajith

The government had spent only Rs 900,000 for the inauguration ceremony of ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ initiative, Chief Government Whip and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said in Parliament yesterday (10).

Jayatissa said so issuing a clarification on New Democratic Front (NDF) MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake’s allegation on Thursday that the government has spent over seven million rupees on the event.

“We have not even paid the 900,000 rupees to various service providers,” the Minister said.

Jayatissa said the government had called for quotations to manage the event and Dassanayake was quoting one of the quotations sent by an organization.

“Of course, companies will send quotations citing various numbers. The MP proposed that he will resign if his statement on Thursday is proven wrong. I don’t think he should take such drastic measures, but his statement is false,” he said.

By Hemantha Randunu

Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russian, Udayanga Weeratunga, was arrested yesterday (10) by the Mirihana Police for assaulting a neighbour.The incident occurred at Kanatta Road, Thalapathpitiya, Mirihana, where Weeratunga resides.

The assault reportedly stemmed from a dispute with his neighbour over the boundary wall separating their properties.Weeratunga had allegedly struck the neighbour with a pipe.

Hospital sources have confirmed that the neighbour has sustained facial injuries, requiring five stitches.

Mirihana Police are conducting further investigations. Following his arrest, Weeratunga was brought before the Nugegoda Magistrate and was remanded until the 17th January.