The Ministry of Defence said it was confirmed that 16 Sri Lankan retired military personnel were killed in the Russia-Ukraine war.

State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon said plans are being made to bring Sri Lankan retired military personnel who are currently in Russia and Ukraine, back to Sri Lanka, with the intervention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

287 complaints have been received relating to the human trafficking of retired military personnel for the Russia-Ukraine war, since the 9th of May.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is actively pursuing further investigations into this illicit activity.

The Defence Ministry requested the family members of the concerned to provide information about retired Sri Lankan military personnel who have joined the Russia-Ukraine war via various routes, including the dates of their departure, persons and institutions that had coordinated their passages, to the following dedicated no: 0112441146.

The Defence Ministry also requested the general public to provide information about individuals involved in human trafficking, those who support it and any relevant information related to the above phone number.