The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan

¶ 01 Question by Private Notice: Issues faced by youth migrated to Russia seeking employment

¶ 02 Hon. Speaker, under Standing Order 27(2), I seek information from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Hon. Vijitha Herath, on the following urgent matter.

¶ 03 Many Sri Lankan youth, seeking employment abroad for the economic betterment of their families, have legally and illegally attempted to go overseas and are continually cheated by agents. Numerous complaints have been received that Tamil and Sinhala youth who trusted such agents have been forcibly enlisted into the Russian military and are now out of contact. Families request the return of their children.

¶ 04 Based on complaints received, information is still unavailable for: Adishtaraja Gomes Vidushan (Jaffna), Sudhanikan Parirthan (Jaffna/Karaveddy), Sundaralingam Balachandran (Mullaitivu/Mulliyawalai), Geetha Pongalan Prathap and Steven Sives (Jaffna), and Vijayakumar Mukundan of Kamalakiri, Karpakkunai, Uduvil, who went missing on 2022.10.20 at the Belarus-Russia border. His father, Ponnuthurai Vijayakumar, is a teacher. Sinhala youth are also reported missing and may have been enlisted.

¶ 05 Questions: 1) How many such youth have been enlisted in the Russian army? 2) Have any deaths been confirmed? If so, provide details. 3) What bilateral steps have been taken to rescue and repatriate them? 4) What governmental measures exist to support and console the distressed families who cannot make contact with their children?