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

The Minister disclosed this information, citing reports from the Sri Lankan Embassy in Russia, in response to a question raised by ITAK MP Sivagnanam Shritharan during Friday’s (07) Parliamentary session.

554 Sri Lankans were recruited by the Russian military for its campaign in Ukraine, with no evidence suggesting they were coerced into service, he said.

The Minister noted that, as of 20 January 2025, a total of 59 individuals had been killed in action. He added that he has information regarding these individuals, which will be recorded in the Parliamentary Hansard.