(30 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Colombo – 30 May 2024
1. Various of joint media briefing by Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Tharaka Balasuriya and Russian ambassador to Sri Lanka Levan Dzhagaryan
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Tharaka Balasuriya, Sri Lankan Junior Foreign Minister: ++STARTS ON WIDE SHOT++
“The situation in Russia is very unfortunate and we are working out with the ministry of defense as for the exact number of people who have gone to Russia. So far, we have received 455 complaints; We feel the number could be much higher than this.“
3. Journalists at the media briefing
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Tharaka Balasuriya, Sri Lankan Junior Foreign Minister:
“They have been duped by certain nefarious agents, some of these people have been arrested as you are well aware of this. The people who have left for Russia have been promised certain salaries and certain privileges including citizenship.”
5. Journalists at the media briefing
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Tharaka Balasuriya, Sri Lankan Junior Foreign Minister:
“Some of the people who have been going to Russia – have been told that they will not be used for any fighting or any military related purposes.”
7. Journalists at the media briefing
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Tharaka Balasuriya, Sri Lankan Junior Foreign Minister:
“We have reports there are 16 people missing and this figure could be much higher. So, I think we need to work very closely with our Russian counterparts in order to come for an early settlement on this matter.”
9. Wide of media briefing
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Levan Dzhagaryan, Russian ambassador to Sri Lanka:
“Today in Moscow, there will be a meeting, the defense ministry with the head of your mission, diplomatic mission, and with your defense attaché, with high-ranking Russian military officials. I do believe that would be the first step and we will continue this effort to settle down the situation. “
11. Journalists at the media briefing
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Levan Dzhagaryan, Russian ambassador to Sri Lanka:
”People who just came to the Russian embassy to obtain this visa. If you allow me, I will ask my consul, former consul, to present some explanations about issuing visas. Those people didn’t tell us they have signed contracts.”
13. Journalists at the media briefing
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Levan Dzhagaryan, Russian ambassador to Sri Lanka:
“As to your question, my president, President Putin clarified many times that if some foreigners would like voluntarily, I underline voluntarily, to join Russian armed forces, there is no objection. Because look on the other side how many mercenaries are fighting for Ukraine, from different countries, from USA, from Columbia, from Poland, from Baltic countries. But Western media prefers to keep silence about it.”
15. End of press conference
STORYLINE:
Sri Lanka and Russia are starting talks Thursday to resolve the issue of Sri Lankans fighting alongside Russians in the war against Ukraine, after 16 people were reported missing in action.
Junior Foreign Minister Tharaka Balasuriya said that the Sri Lankans, mostly retired soldiers, had been duped into traveling to Russia with promises of good salaries and privileges including Russian citizenship.
“The situation in Russia is very unfortunate," Balasuriya told reporters, adding that he is working with the defense ministry to ascertain the number of people fighting in Russia.
“We have received 455 complaints; we feel the number could be much higher,” he added.
He said that it will be the first step and he hoped the process will successfully resolve the issue.
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