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Retired Major & agent arrested for recruiting SL mercenaries for Russian Army

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The Human Trafficking, Human Smuggling and Maritime Crime Investigation Division (CID) arrested a retired major and an employment agent, identified as leaders of an organized scheme that recruited retired military personnel as mercenaries for the Russian army.

These two suspects were remanded till May 2 upon being produced before Negombo Magistate’s Court yesterday evening.

Investigations have revealed that the agency was promoted by young women, including popular actresses currently featured in well-known television dramas.

It is alleged that they deceived these individuals, promising them employment in Europe with work visas, ultimately defrauding them of significant sums of money.

The arrests occurred at the residences of the suspects in Wariyapola and Digana, respectively.

The arrested Major, previously a member of the Army Special Forces, is identified as Wijebandara and the agent is named Bandula.

According to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), these arrests are part of a broader operation, with additional suspects expected to be detained.

The CID has also uncovered that Chathuranga, who operated a large-scale agency on Katugastota Road in Kandy, is a key figure in this racket. He has reportedly fled to Russia and is currently in hiding.

Further revelations indicate that the recruited ex-military personnel were sent to Russia under the guise of performing maintenance work at military camps, but were instead employed as frontline mercenaries. A retired corporal, who managed to escape from the Russian mercenary force, disclosed that around 500 Sri Lankans are engaged in military activities within the Russian forces. This information led to the arrests of Wijebandara and Bandula.

The investigation has also highlighted that many of those recruited into the Russian mercenary forces from Sri Lanka, particularly from commando and special forces backgrounds, were ostensibly hired for non-combatant roles but were ultimately used in active military operations. According to the escaped corporal, those attempting to flee were either shot or captured and imprisoned.

This same corporal disclosed that his deployment was orchestrated by the retired Major from Wariyapola and that the logistics for his travel to Russia was arranged by Bandula and Chathuranga. The group of 37, including the corporal, departed for Russia from Katunayake International Airport on February 24. They have all retired from military service. The return of the corporal to Sri Lanka on March 1 was facilitated by the Red Cross and the Russian Embassy. He also revealed that two of his companions, who fled with him, have been captured by Russian forces and are currently detained in a military facility.

It has been reported that two Sri Lankans were killed in a drone attack by the Russian army in the Donetsk region of Ukraine on March 8 of the previous year, following the deaths of two others in Russia from an attack by Ukraine.

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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President AKD meets German Minister for Economic Cooperation & Development

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President Anura Kumara Disanayake, currently on an official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany, met this afternoon (June 13) with the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Ms. Reem Alabali-Radovan, at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Berlin.

The discussion focused on the shared economic challenges both countries face in the context of emerging global economic trends. The two sides engaged in a comprehensive dialogue on potential areas for further strengthening economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and Germany.

The President acknowledged the longstanding history of bilateral cooperation between Sri Lanka and Germany, highlighting Germany’s significant contributions to vocational training institutions such as the Ceylon German Technical Training Institute (CGTTI), as well as to sectors like healthcare. The President conveyed his profound gratitude for this assistance. The discussion also focused on the importance of enhancing such contributions into mutually beneficial partnerships in the future.

Joining the meeting were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Germany Varuni Muthukumarana and Director General for Europe and North America at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sugeeshwara Gunaratna along with other officials..

(President’s Media Division)

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SL urges Lankans in Israel & Iran to remain vigilant

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A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism in Sri Lanka has urged both Israel and Iran to ‘exercise restraint, engage in dialogue and pursue diplomatic initiatives to de-escalate the tense situation.’

“Sri Lanka is deeply concerned by the recent developments between Israel and Iran. We urge both countries to exercise restraint, engage in dialogue and pursue diplomatic initiatives to de-escalate the tense situation,” the statement notes.

“The Sri Lanka Missions in both countries are closely monitoring the situation and remain in contact with the Sri Lankan nationals in the respective countries. They are advised to exercise utmost caution and remain vigilant, the statement adds.

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Controversy over President AKD’s nomination of Justice Laffar to SC?

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President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has nominated Acting President of the Court of Appeal – M.T. Mohamed Laffar, to fill an upcoming Supreme Court (SC) vacancy set to arise on June 20 with the retirement of Justice Gamini Amarasekara.

The nomination, sent to the Constitutional Council on June 09, has raised concerns among legal experts, as such appointments are typically made only after a vacancy becomes official.

Meanwhile, it is also reported that Justice Laffar is to retire just 02 days before the vacancy occurs, turning 63 on June 18.

This also prompts speculation that the President had aimed to secure the appointment before Laffar’s own retirement.

According to Article 41(c) of the Sri Lankan Constitution, the Constitutional Council is required to obtain the views of the Chief Justice when making decisions related to appointments to the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal but it is said that the CJ’s directive is also yet to be secured in this case.

Earlier this year, when 04 Supreme Court vacancies were filled, Justice Laffar was not among those recommended by the Chief Justice, despite his seniority.

Instead, Senior judges Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Menaka Wijesundera and less senior Appeal Court judges Sampath Wijekoon and Sampath Wijeratne were appointed to the SC, on the Chief Justice’s recommendations.

(Source: Anidda Newspaper)

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