Tore nails off and kept saying ’’money’’: police give details about capture of Sri Lankan citizens

19 September 2022 10:52 am - 31 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The National Police of Kharkiv Oblast have reported the details of seven Sri Lankan citizens who had been in captivity and managed to free themselves after liberation of the oblast.

As Bolvinov reported, seven Sri Lankan citizens, a woman and six men were in Kupiansk at the beginning of the full-scale invasion. They were frightened by the war and decided not to go anywhere, but to hide instead.

In May, they tried to reach Kharkiv on foot, but were detained at the very first Russian army checkpoint. The Russians tied their hands, put bags on their heads and took them to a makeshift prison in Vovchansk.

"The Sri Lankan citizens were kept in inhumane conditions there; they were forced to work as cleaners. A woman was kept in solitary confinement for two months! Two of them had their nails torn off; one was hit on the head with a door. Since the Ruscists do not speak English, foreigners never understood what the Russians wanted from them, and what they were tortured for. The only thing they understood was that the Russians said ‘money’ during the torture. Judging from this, the second army of the world demanded money from the detained foreigners from Sri Lanka."

After liberation of Vovchansk, the foreigners again decided to go to Kharkiv on foot, on the way they met a hotel guard, who sheltered them and informed Ukrainian police about it.

nvestigation of this case is ongoing; police have contacted the Embassy of Sri Lanka, and the victims have been provided with safe and proper living conditions.

On 16 September, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that seven Sri Lankan citizens who had been held captive by the occupiers since March were rescued in the liberated territories of Kharkiv Oblast.

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Comments - 31

Mizaru Monday, 19 September 2022 11:07 AM

The Russian solders kept saying "Money". Sri Lanka government is asking for loans from Russia amounting to billons of US dollars. This shows what the Sri Lanka government is up to. Just playing to the rice eating clowns.

tilak Monday, 19 September 2022 11:24 AM

Russians should have been briefed Sri Lankans do not have money

Sokrates Monday, 19 September 2022 11:24 AM

Is it now clear to everyone what kind of tampon-grabbing rectal parasite Putin is? The Sri Lankans can still be happy to have escaped the clutches of this cruel dictator so lightly. Ukraine and international organizations are currently investigating more than 40,000 war crimes, almost all of them fatalities. Our crooked politicians should refrain from making apologies to Rissia and stop negotiating profane fuel deals. Better no or more expensive diesel than blood-diesel.

ajith Monday, 19 September 2022 11:25 AM

should have detained their Aerofloat longer

TJ Monday, 19 September 2022 11:25 AM

Russia is a well-known rouge nation that doesn't respect human rights or any international laws. In spite of its reputation, our cabinet minister apologized to the Russians for a commercial dispute that was decided by a court of law. Maybe he too wanted to beg for money as the Russian soldiers did.

amal Monday, 19 September 2022 11:26 AM

WW can you organize a protest in front of the Russian embassy- or such acta are reserved only for Western and UN agencies

Shocked Monday, 19 September 2022 11:51 AM

According to this article, they were not rescued, they have rescued themselves. President Zelensky mustn't take credit for this by saying 7 Sri Lankan students were rescued.

vince Monday, 19 September 2022 04:01 PM

does it matter fool? They are at least safe now. who gives flying f who rescued who.

Tak Tik Tuk Monday, 19 September 2022 12:01 PM

Something fishy, when the war was imminent, all expats in Ukraine was evacuating. So what was these people doing in a warzone? this need a thorough investigation.

Sandeera Silva Monday, 19 September 2022 12:11 PM

DM are you not tired of publishing this nonsense from Ukrainian propaganda and the crazy clown Zelensky ?? Are you serious media or village gossip? I was in Russia, it's a rich country and they have money. Stop provoking insults against the Russians. Russia is our friend, and it makes no sense for them to keep SL students in prison, especially for such ridiculously made up reasons. DM constantly support the attempts of Ukrainians to quarrel our countries. Why?

Kandy Monday, 19 September 2022 12:22 PM

Despite the atrocities to SL citizens, a Senior Cabinet Minister apologizes to the Russians over a detained aircraft. What a pathetic situation. The entire govt. should resign.

Rasputin Monday, 19 September 2022 07:21 PM

In pathetic English sitting on an upright chair with a junior diplomat.

Mahial Monday, 19 September 2022 12:53 PM

"The Sri Lankan citizens were kept in, 1. IMPRISONED – INHUMANE CONDITIONS 2. FORCED TO WORK AS CLEANERS. 3. A woman was kept in SOLITARY CONFINEMENT FOR TWO MONTHS! 4. TWO OF THEM HAD THEIR NAILS TORN OFF; 5. ONE WAS HIT ON THE HEAD WITH A DOOR. 6. Don’t speak English, foreigners never understood what they wanted and were tortured for. 7. The only thing they UNDERSTOOD WAS THAT THE RUSSIANS SAID ‘MONEY’ DURING THE TORTURE. 8. The world’s second (Largest) army, presumably demanded money from detained Sri Lankans." Is Minister Honourable Bandula sufficiently knowledgeable and Intelligent?? NO! Contd.,

Mahial Monday, 19 September 2022 12:53 PM

"The Sri Lankan citizens were kept in, 1. IMPRISONED – INHUMANE CONDITIONS 2. FORCED TO WORK AS CLEANERS. 3. A woman was kept in SOLITARY CONFINEMENT FOR TWO MONTHS! 4. TWO OF THEM HAD THEIR NAILS TORN OFF; 5. ONE WAS HIT ON THE HEAD WITH A DOOR. 6. Don’t speak English, foreigners never understood what they wanted and were tortured for. 7. The only thing they UNDERSTOOD WAS THAT THE RUSSIANS SAID ‘MONEY’ DURING THE TORTURE. 8. The world’s second (Largest) army, presumably demanded money from detained Sri Lankans." Is Minister Honourable Bandula sufficiently knowledgeable and Intelligent?? NO! Contd.,

Mahila Monday, 19 September 2022 12:54 PM

(PartII) This is the country, the Idiosyncratic, Moronic Minister of SL apologised for RIGHTFULLY DETAINING AN AIRCRAFT, BY ORDER OF THE COMMERCIAL HIGH COURT OF COLOMBO, defaulting paying rental, due to aircraft lessor??!! In Ukraine, Russian army, is demanding money from the Sri Lankan students in captivity and this moron is negotiating with them loan in excess of USD 100 million??!! Minister is not realist, as he asserted, Family of 4 manage with Rs 2500 per month!?? Spend few hours, Castle street signal lights to learn “How best to Beg???” Then he would be better equipped for the job!!??

Punchi Monday, 19 September 2022 12:58 PM

When we detained and eliminated or is it terminated our fellow citizens in 2009 it was being patriotic. When another birds of a feather flock together country detains and ill treats to our fellow citizens it is criminal.

Mike Monday, 19 September 2022 01:05 PM

This is one sided story. What about Russian side? What were they doing there? Why don't they left early before war started? Before war started Ukrainian refused to on board the train for Black and Asian and left the to walk. Who they trying to fool now? DM please put balance story, we don't want copy and paste stories.

vince Monday, 19 September 2022 04:03 PM

Did you tell them there was a war coming their way? That may be why they stayed. What is wrong with idiots like you who question every effing thing rather than be happy some are safe.

Dr. Sareenda Monday, 19 September 2022 01:05 PM

@Socrates and @TJ , instead of splashing poison here, it’s better to find a good narcologist for your beloved zelensky. you yourself also do not interfere with going to the doctor - you are both very aggressive and stupid nationalists.

Sokrates Monday, 19 September 2022 01:15 PM

@ Sandera Silva. If you want Putin, a turd-sniffing wanker, as a friend, then that's your private matter. When you visited Russia you probably had rose-colored glasses on or it was in the pre-Putin era. You may have been brainwashed there as well. But others in this country do not want a cruel and megalomaniac butcher as a friend who, for no reason, has waged a terrible war on a free and democratic country, in which 75,000 of its own soldiers have already died.

50 year old Ukrainian student Monday, 19 September 2022 01:57 PM

are these "students" in the photo? how old are they? Do Ukrainians really take us for fools??at least you could make sure that your lie is at least a little like the truth, but you probably didn’t have enough time for that. We are waiting for an official message from our ambassador, their return (if they are our citizens at all) and their first-hand story

Dee Monday, 19 September 2022 02:02 PM

They must have been saying that they won't have any money in them. And that their country itself does not have any money and that their government is asking Russia for Money. If fact they may have even said that it's best to just let them go or else they will also start asking for money!

Socutera Monday, 19 September 2022 03:33 PM

@Sandeera Silva On what kind of drugs you're on man. Are you mad? and did you walk only in Moscow?? What a bunch of bullshit you write in one piece! And you think Russia is friends Sri Lanka? Come on and wake up. Russia has no friends, not now, not tomorrow and never will have. Because they trust nobody, and for your information the people who live in that country has nothing. You are currently even better off in Sri Lanka than many people in Russia

Dee Monday, 19 September 2022 03:48 PM

Also they look pretty old to be students. Probably waiting to jump to Europe. Else they would have come back when the rest of the SL students were evacuated.

Wrong, Wrong wrong Monday, 19 September 2022 05:48 PM

They don't look scrawny like the many malnutrition affected people in our country. I saw in other reports that there were never any parents (or anyone else) from Sri Lanka who came forward about their disappearance in Ukraine. Looking forward to finding out after our Sri Lankan official speak to the seven people on what really happened, and who they are, and why it seems no one in our country, that is their family and relative chose not to speak up about their disappearance.

Lassana Deyak Monday, 19 September 2022 05:52 PM

@Sokrates You seem insanely interested in Ukrainians. Maybe you can go and fight for them there, as they want foreigner to risk their life for the Ukrainians future.

Lawry Monday, 19 September 2022 07:28 PM

When people comment they'd better read up on the chain of events that lead to this invasion. The country's that instigated Ukraine are playing their cards at rhe background. They are equally responsible for all the deaths and losses

No to UNHRC Monday, 19 September 2022 08:27 PM

If this is true, and these people were truly medical students... whom nobody in Sri Lanka was aware about, I hope our government treats the our ally Russia (who helped vote for us at the UN HCR) most understandingly. Maybe Russia can be convinced to give us loan on more favourable terms to respect for the atrocity that the Ukrainian media claims Russia has done against our seven people.

I am patriot Monday, 19 September 2022 10:06 PM

@Punchi It was good we got rid of the LTTE control from our nation (even if by wrongful means as seen internationally). Too long western nations including the now fleeing from our nation Norwegians have pampered the LTTE. If it hadn't been for the West, India and the LTTE supporting diaspora the situation would not have eventuated as it did.

Kumar Monday, 19 September 2022 11:24 PM

If they are real medical students, their parents are not coming because they are stinking rich? If it was my child, I would have been looking for my child from day one.

Lankan for country Tuesday, 20 September 2022 07:20 PM

Is there a twisting of the circumstances to suit for publicity or other needs. The situation has raised questions in my mind about what really happened. When will these Sri Lankans who were held prisoner be back here to find out more.

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Tore nails off and kept saying ’’money’’: police give details about capture of Sri Lankan citizens

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