A retired Major General and a Sergeant Major who were involved in an organized racket of sending retired military personnel as mercenaries to Russia have been arrested by the officers of the Trade, Smuggling and Maritime Crime Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Department yesterday (8) night.
Following a long investigation by the CID regarding this racket, the Major General and the Sergeant Major have been arrested.
These two suspects are residents of Kurunegala.
It is alleged that more than 500 retired military personnel have been sent to Russia as mercenaries and they have been promised high salaries and even citizenship in Russia, in some instances.
Investigations have now revealed that retired soldiers from this country have been taken and sold to the mercenary army after promising them jobs in Russian military camps.
Information has surfaced that six Sri Lankan’s have died and more than 25 people have been injured due to the Ukrainian attacks.
Recently, about 150 people have been sent to Russia and they are being kept in a training camp, according to the information received from that country.
In relation to this racket, on April 17, a retired major and an agent were arrested by the officers of the Trade, Smuggling and Maritime Crime Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Department at Warakapola and Digana.
The Major, who has served in the Army Special Forces, was arrested at Wariyapola and the agent was arrested at Digana.
Gayan Kumara Weerasinghe