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Sri Lankan delegation to Russia faces hurdles in negotiations over fighters in Ukraine
View(s):- Challenges include Sri Lankans obtaining Russian citizenship and contractual obligations with Russian military
By Kasun Warakapitiya
The Sri Lankan delegation who visited Russia from June 26-27 to investigate the fate of Sri Lankans fighting in the war in Ukraine have encountered fresh complications.
Key among them was that some had already obtained Russian citizenship and thereby ceased to be Sri Lankan citizens.
The Sri Lanka delegation with a Russian official
The delegation led by State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya had discussions with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Andrey Rudenko and the Deputy Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, Colonel General A. V. Fomin.
According to a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry, discussions focused on the 17 Sri Lankans killed in action, the payment of compensation for the families of the deceased and the wounded, the plight of those who are missing and uncontactable, the possibility of voluntary returns, early termination of contracts, and regularisation of remuneration.
The statement said that the Sri Lankan delegation had proposed the establishment of a joint working committee comprising officials from both sides that would meet regularly to address the issues and concerns of the Sri Lankans, who have been deployed.
In addition to Mr. Balasuriya, parliamentarians Dayasiri Jayasekera and Gamini Waleboda, Defence Ministry secretary Ret. General Kamal Gunaratne, Charge d’Affaires of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation Ambassador P. M. Amza, Additional Solicitor General Harippriya Jayasundara, Director General, Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sisira Senavirathne, former Ambassador to Russia Dr. Saman Weerasinghe, and officials of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Russia had joined the discussions.
A member who took part in the talks said that Russia has agreed to pay compensation to the victims and has planned to provide a guard of honour for the deceased 17 Sri Lankans.
He said Russia had said that facilities would be made for family members of the deceased to be a part of the occassion and be at hand to receive compensation and the remains of their fallen kin.
He said the Russian officials had pointed out that some Sri Lankans had obtained Russian citizenship; and were no longer Sri Lankan citizens making it difficult for Sri Lanka to intervene. He said President Ranil Wickeremesinghe had been appraised of this development including the fact that some Sri Lankans had signed agreements before joining the Russian military.
Meanwhile, Dayasari Jayasekara, who was also a part of the delegation said that they had proposed a joint committee representing both parties in order to resolve issues faced by Sri Lankans enlisted in the Russian military.
He added that there were issues such as some Sri Lankans had not obtained any payments, and there were also instances of illegal human traffickers (locals) who brought Sri Lankans to Russia obtaining the salaries of those in the frontlines fighting the war.
“The delegation gave the names of 464 Sri Lankans fighting in the Russian- Ukraine war, among them are 121 with whom there has been no communications. Apart from them, over 72 Sri Lankans are injured.
“We could not visit the injured Sri Lankans, as they were held in camps that were about 1800 miles away. And those camps are near the Ukrainian border, so there is no way that the Russian government would allow us to go there; however, Embassy personnel would be allowed to visit these camps,” Mr. Dayasiri said.
MP Gamani Waleboda said they discussed ways of finding those reported missing, getting treatment for the injured, providing compensation for deceased and getting the injured back to Sri Lanka, as well as getting medical care and entitled financial support for every Sri Lankan who signed agreements before joining the military.
Apart from that, discussions were also held about making arrangements to repatriate those who did not want to be a part of the war and wanted to return to Sri Lanka and those who wished to remain in Russia.
However, Mr. Waleboda pointed out that the problem was complex.
“Sri Lankans who had enlisted in the Russian forces have knowingly or unknowingly signed legal documents and are bound by them and are unable to quit as they wish. Therefore, we hope to hold cordial talks and concentrate on providing medication for the injured and financial matters.
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