Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath confirmed that 59 Sri Lankans serving in the Russian Army have been killed on the Ukraine warfront.

In response to a question raised by MP Sivagnanam Shritharan during today’s (7) Parliamentary session, the Minister quoted reports from the Sri Lankan Embassy in Russia.

Additionally, the Minister revealed that 554 Sri Lankans had been recruited by the Russian military for the war in Ukraine, with no evidence suggesting that they were forcibly recruited.

As of 20 January 2025, 59 of these individuals have been confirmed killed in battle. The Minister also stated that detailed information regarding these citizens will be tabled in Parliament.