A special team was sent to Russia to rescue people stranded in the middle of the war.
The Department of Criminal Investigation anticipates receiving assistance from the International Police in the apprehension of ‘Chaturanga’, who is purportedly the mastermind behind the operation of human trafficking Sri Lankans to the Russia-Ukraine war zone.
Furthermore, the Negombo Magistrate’s Court recently ordered the remand of five suspects, including a retired major general, who have been arrested in connection with this human trafficking case until the 30th.
President Ranil Wickramasinghe has also directed relevant departments to dispatch a team led by Udayanga Weeratunga, the former ambassador to Russia, to investigate the involvement of Sri Lankans in the war.
An agreement was reached between the international and the brokers
It has been confirmed that the process of sending Sri Lankans to the Russia-Ukraine war was a smuggling operation based on an agreement between the international community and a group of brokers in this country.
The Criminal Investigation Department has stated that they expect support from the International Police to arrest a man named ‘Chaturanga’, who is said to have led this racket.
It has been revealed during the investigations that the suspect, named Chaturanga, has left Russia for Poland and is in hiding. The Criminal Investigation Department has decided to arrest him immediately and prosecute him according to the law of Sri Lanka.
Red warrants to arrest the main suspect in the racket?
It has come to light that the main suspect, known as ‘Chaturanga’, was involved in various illegal activities by operating a foreign employment agency in the Katugastota area of Kandy.
Additionally, Member of Parliament Gamini Valeboda disclosed that he has received information about another family allegedly sent to Russia under false pretences.
It has been revealed that the family travelled to Russia on tourist visas, and the husband has reportedly joined the mercenary army fighting for Russia.
Furthermore, the MP mentioned that the husband sustained severe injuries to both legs and is currently undergoing treatment in a hospital in Russia.
Currently, 05 suspects are in custody
An owner and manager of a foreign employment agency, who were involved in a scam, were recently arrested with the intervention of the Foreign Employment Bureau.
Complaints have also been received that they smuggled people by taking 1.5 million rupees from an individual. The Sri Lanka Police managed to arrest the two suspects running a foreign employment agency in Nugegoda during a raid.
Additionally, these two suspects and five others, including a previously arrested Major General, were remanded until the 30th after being presented to the supervision of the Negombo Magistrate. The police revealed that a former major general is also among the suspects.
Special team to Russia
President Ranil Wickramasinghe has directed the relevant departments to conduct a formal investigation into the controversial issue and report the facts. Minister of State for External Affairs Taraka Balasuriya stated that the government has decided to send a delegation to Russia for this purpose.
The government has reported that 16 former Sri Lankan soldiers who participated in the Russia-Ukraine war have lost their lives. Various sources indicate that the number of soldiers who have left for the war so far is more than 1000.
However, the Criminal Investigation Department has not officially confirmed this information. The Department has received about 300 complaints to bring back the individuals who went to war and stated that they will conduct further investigations accordingly.
