News
More than 100 Lankan soldiers of fortune serving both Russia and Ukraine out of economic necessity
By Norman Palihawadane
Police Media Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said that eight Lankans who served as mercenaries in the Russia-Ukraine war were killed in action as per the information yielded by investigations conducted up to Thursday.He said that six Lankans were killed while serving the Russian army and two others died serving the Ukrainian forces.
The Police Spokesman said that further investigations are in progress to find out the exact number of Lankans serving in either side of the conflict.
He said that investigations have revealed that 60 Sri Lankans have been sent to Russia and 23 have been sent to Ukraine so far by human traffickers, to be deployed in the conflict.
ASP of the CID’s Human Trafficking, Smuggling, and Maritime Crimes Division, Harendra Jayakantha said investigations have revealed that over 100 members of Sri Lankan security forces have joined the Russia – Ukraine war by illegal means.
In the meantime, one of the retired security forces members who had left the country to join the Russia-Ukraine war returned to the country from Ukraine Thursday morning (09). He was arrested by the CID at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake upon arrival. He is a resident of Kuliyapitiya, police said.
Independent observers said virtually all are soldiers of fortune due to dire economic straits they are facing here. As they are of no burden to the country they should not be criminalised for risking their life and limb to earn a living.
It has been reported that former Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickramaratne has been found dead at his residence in Athurugiriya this morning (17)
it is suspected that he may have taken his own life.
A heated argument broke out between Jaffna District MP Archchuna Ramanathan and Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar during the Kilinochchi District Coordination Committee meeting held yesterday (16).
A video footage of the incident shows the MP and the Minister engaging in a heated verbal exchange, following which a physical confrontation appeared to develop when the Minister attempted to grab files reportedly in the possession of MP Ramanathan.
“If you lay a hand on me, I’ll lay a hand on you too… got it?” Ramanathan is heard telling the Minister during the exchange.
Police and officials present at the meeting intervened to prevent the situation from escalating further.
The circumstances that led to the confrontation were not immediately clear.
Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has filed an intervening petition before the Court of Appeal in connection with a petition filed by former head of the State Intelligence Service, Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay, challenging his arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act over investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
The Cardinal has sought permission from the court to make submissions in relation to Sallay’s petition and requested that it be dismissed.
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