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Ukraine war
This Week in Asia

‘Every day they tortured us’: Sri Lanka urged to do more for 7 citizens freed after Russian ‘torture’

  • Rights group pushes Sri Lanka to do more, take responsibility for seven Ukraine-based citizens freed recently after being detained by Russian forces
  • The group – four medical students and three migrant workers – are undecided on their next steps and remains in Kharkiv

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The seven, freed last month when Ukrainian forces retook the eastern Kharkiv region, recounted beatings and forced labour at the hands of their Russian captors. One of the victims was shot in the foot and another had his toe nail torn off. Photo: Reuters
Amy Chew
A Colombo-based human rights groups has called on the Sri Lankan government to do more and take responsibility for seven of its citizens who said they were captured and tortured by Russians in eastern Ukraine.
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The seven, freed last month when Ukrainian forces retook the eastern Kharkiv region, recounted beatings and forced labour at the hands of their Russian captors. One of the victims was shot in the foot and another had his toe nail torn off.
“It’s the responsibility of the government to look into the well-being of Sri Lankans inside and outside Sri Lanka,” Ruki Fernando, human rights activist and consultant to the Centre for Society and Religion, told This Week In Asia.
The seven Sri Lanka citizens, who Ukrainian authorities say had been held by Russian forces since March and were rescued during a counteroffensive operation of Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kharkiv, attend a news conference in Kharkiv on September 18. Photo: Reuters
The seven Sri Lanka citizens, who Ukrainian authorities say had been held by Russian forces since March and were rescued during a counteroffensive operation of Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kharkiv, attend a news conference in Kharkiv on September 18. Photo: Reuters

“The foreign ministry and embassies, funded by Sri Lankan citizens, must contact them and do everything possible to ensure their rights, dignity and well-being,” said Fernando.

He said that based on available information, it appeared the government “has done very little to assist them”.

Fernando said the government had initially said they were looking into this, but government officials later told the media that the seven were illegal migrants and did not want to return to Sri Lanka.

In a press conference in Kharkiv a week ago, the Sri Lankans recounted their ordeal and said they were deeply affected and traumatised by what had happened and have not decided what to do next.

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