The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has arrested a retired Major of the Sri Lanka Army and another person for fraudulently obtaining money from individuals on the promise of sending them for employment in the Russian army, police stated.
However, on 1 April, the Ministry of Defence announced that all members of Sri Lankan tri-forces had been informed not to join Russian or Ukrainian forces by any illegal means.
The Ministry of Defense also mentioned that such incidents would damage the country's reputation in a background where there is no agreement between the Sri Lankan army and the Russian army to send Sri Lankan military members to serve in Russia.
Meanwhile, in December 2023, it was reported that three Sri Lankan mercenaries were killed in a Russian attack while serving in the Ukrainian military.