President Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed a specialized delegation to head to Russia, aiming to investigate the potential repatriation of Sri Lankans who have fallen victim to trafficking in the country.
State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya revealed that the government is actively working to ascertain the precise count of Sri Lankans present in Russia, particularly those reportedly involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
"The President's directive involves representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Defence Secretary, and a former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia," stated the State Minister.
Balasuriya highlighted the challenges in accurately determining the Sri Lankan presence in Russia, citing entry through India and visit visas as complicating factors. He also noted instances where migrants were deceived with false promises of alternative job opportunities.
Unofficial estimations suggest that approximately 600 to 800 Sri Lankans may currently be in Russia, a situation characterized as human trafficking by the Minister. "Our primary focus must be on preventing further migration to Russia," emphasized Balasuriya.
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