sri lanka tourist fuel

Courtesy Adaderana

Tourists Fuel Pass was introduced this evening allowing foreign tourists coming to Sri Lanka to be able to get fuel according to their needs, outside the QR Code system.

Tourists can obtain their fuel needs from 300 Ceypetco and LIOC fuel stations islandwide, according to Tourism Minister Harin Fernando.

According to the invitation of the Ministry of Power and Energy and the Ministry of Tourism and Lands, Dialog Axiata PLC, the leading communications provider in Sri Lanka, together with Sampath Bank, launched the Tourists Fuel Pass to facilitate foreign tourists visiting Sri Lanka to carry out their tourism activities more easily and without any hindrance.

The unveiling took place at the auditorium of Dialog Axiata with the participation of the Ministers in charge of the respective Ministries and the heads of the respective institutions.

With this Tourist Fuel Pass system, foreign tourists coming to this country will be able to get fuel according to their needs, separate from the existing fuel quota system in the country.

They have the convenience of visiting any Sampath Bank branch islandwide and purchasing tourists fuel passes in any foreign currency, as well as the convenience of getting fuel easily from over 300 Ceypetco and LIOC fuel stations islandwide.

Dialog Axiata PLC and MillenniumIT ESP instituted technical cooperation for the introduction of the Tourists Fuel Pass.

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Sri Lanka limits fuel to essential services with supplies set to run out in days

Miles-long queues outside petrol stations despite ban on sales for private vehicles for at least a week

Sri Lanka’s energy minister has said the country’s fuel supplies will run out in a few days, forcing nationwide school closures and prolonged power cuts, as the worst economic crisis in its history continues.

Kanchana Wijesekera said fuel stocks were enough to last less than a day under current demand, and petrol and diesel was being limited to essential services such a healthcare and public transport in order to stretch out the remaining supplies for a few more days and ensure the country did not shut down entirely.

Sales of fuel for private vehicles have been banned for at least the next week, but outside petrol stations across the country there were still miles-long queues of vehicles.

The fuel crisis is affecting almost every element of life in Sri Lanka, preventing people from being able to go to work and school. On Sunday, school closures in Colombo and other major cities were extended for another week as teachers and pupils have been unable to travel to classrooms. Power cuts lasting up to 14 hours have been imposed to preserve fuel.

Another shipment of diesel is due at the weekend and petrol is due in two weeks, but Wijesekera admitted Sri Lanka did not have the money to pay for the shipments. They will total about $587m, and the country has only $125m left in the bank.

The government is already about $800m in debt to several fuel suppliers as its reserves of foreign currency have run dry and it has been barred from borrowing any more money from international markets. It has been negotiating with Russia to try to acquire some cheap fuel.

Sri Lanka has been facing fuel shortages for months as it grapples with a financial crisis that has left it unable to import essentials such as food and medicines. In June, the prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, told parliament that “our economy has completely collapsed”, and the UN has said the country is facing a dire humanitarian crisis.

Inflation has hit 54%, leaving many households unable to afford basic items, especially as most food items have more than doubled in price.

Sri Lanka was seen as one of the most rapidly developing south Asian nations, with a fast-emerging, well-educated middle class, but many fear that the decades of progress will be undone by this crisis.

The economic woes stem from a decades-long trade deficit and culture of heavy foreign borrowing, which have left Sri Lanka with debts of $51bn that it cannot afford to repay. Since 2019, ill-advised decisions by the government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa have led to state revenue falling by more than 1tn rupees, and the island of 22 million people was also hit hard financially by the impacts of Covid on tourism.

The country is facing bankruptcy after it was forced to default on several billion dollars of foreign loan repayments. It is in discussion with the International Monetary Fund over a $3bn bailout and help with restructuring its loans, but officials have said a programme could take months to be agreed. Countries including India, China and the US have provided emergency financial assistance in recent weeks.

South and central Asia

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Dialog in Partnership with Sampath Bank Launches Tourist Fuel Pass

Dialog in Partnership with Sampath Bank Launches Tourist Fuel Pass Unrestricted Access to Fuel for Tourists Visiting Sri Lanka – Powered by Ceypetco, Lanka IOC and MillenniumIT ESP

Dialog Axiata PLC on the invitation of Ministry of Power and Energy and Ministry of Tourism partnered Sampath Bank PLC, to launch the Tourist Fuel Pass (TFP) that would enable tourists visiting Sri Lanka to obtain fuel without the standard quota restrictions. The TFP is a NFC-based stored value card that can be purchased on foreign currency at any Sampath Bank outlet. The Tourist Fuel Pass is powered by the Touch Fuel Platform developed by MilleniumIT ESP and accessible at selected Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (Ceypetco) and Lanka IOC (LIOC) fuel stations island-wide.

To facilitate the issuance of the TFP, Dialog has been authorized to issue single purpose stored value cards. The Touch Fuel solution is available across 300 CPC and LIOC outlets and will be expanded to over 500 outlets by end-October 2022. Tourists can purchase the Tourist Fuel Pass for USD 5/- at any of the 229 Sampath Bank branches island-wide, including the outlet at the airport arrival. Tourists can access https://fuelpass.gov.lk/touristpass for additional information and contact the 24-hour hotline on 1393 for any card related queries. The Tourist Fuel Pass will be allowed a minimum of USD 50/- and a maximum of USD 300/- top-up value that can be paid in any accepted foreign currency, which will then be converted to LKR equivalent on the day’s prevailing forex rate and will be subject to a convenience fee deduction. The card is valid for 2 years from the date of activation. Further, any loss or damaged card can be replaced at any of the Sampath bank branches island-wide.

Commenting, Hon. Kanchana Wijesekera, Minister of Power and Energy said, “We are pleased to introduce the Tourist Fuel Pass to encourage overseas visitors to Sri Lanka who may be concerned about availability of fuel for their travel within the country. We are grateful to Dialog Axiata PLC, Sampath Bank PLC and Dialog’s Technology partner MillenniumIT ESP, along with CPC and LIOC for enabling the launch of this platform. The Government of Sri Lanka is committed to creating a safe and comfortable environment for all visitors to our beautiful country and the launch of TFP is one such initiative in that direction”.

Sharing his thoughts on the Tourist Fuel Pass, Hon. Harin Fernando, Minister of Tourism and Lands said “With the influx of visitors arriving in the country following the tourist season, I am pleased to see initiatives of this nature come to fruition. We have deep-seated confidence in this platform as it is powered by Dialog Axiata and Sampath Bank, two of the leaders in new technology & innovation. I must also acknowledge the efforts taken by MIT, Ceypetco and Lanka IOC for facilitating the launch of the Tourist Fuel Pass. We must all come together to showcase the beautiful nation that we all love as the accommodating, hospitable, ultimate travel destination that it is, and I am grateful to all those present on this occasion who have done so”.

Speaking about the initiative, Supun Weerasinghe, Group Chief Executive of Dialog Axiata PLC said, “We are thankful to the Ministry of Power and Energy and the Ministry of Tourism and Lands for their continued efforts and collaboration with the private sector to utilize digital platforms that would overcome challenges and accelerate growth. We are pleased to facilitate the ‘Tourist Fuel Pass’ solution and are thankful to our partners Sampath Bank, MIT, Ceypetco and Lanka IOC for enabling the launch of TFP on time for the upcoming tourist season”.

Sharing his thoughts on the partnership, Nanda Fernando, Managing Director of Sampath Bank PLC said “We at Sampath Bank are pleased to collaborate with Dialog Axiata PLC and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation on this new initiative as the exclusive banking partner for the new Tourist Fuel Pass. Introducing this scheme, guarantees an influx of foreign currency to the country as well as brings forth convenience and availability of fuel for tourists to travel around the island. As we thrive to support our country during these uncertain times, we are privileged to be on board with this project and to revive our nation”.

Expressing his thoughts, Susantha de Silva, Managing Director, CPC said, “Ceylon Petroleum Corporation takes pride in having been able to energize the future tourism industry by timely initiating the Tourist Fuel Pass in collaboration with all stakeholders. It has been a challenge but a joy to explore practical and user-friendly avenues to make tourists feel unburdened and carefree during their stay in our beautiful island. We are grateful to all the entities which held hands with Ceylon Petroleum Corporation in this journey to launch a Tourist Fuel Pass. I sincerely wish that this measure will drive the future tourism industry into a new phase and open new doors to uplift the country’s economy.”

Commenting, Manoj Gupta, Managing Director of LIOC said, “Atithidevo Bhava-A guest is akin to God. We are delighted to collaborate with Dialog Axiata PLC, Sampath Bank PLC and Dialog’s Technology partner Millennium IT ESP for this much awaited launch of Tourist Fuel Pass, that offers tourists fuel assurance at all LIOC sheds. As the travel and hospitality sector is witnessing increasing demand once again, we believe this Tourist Fuel Pass is coming at the right time for tourists looking at resuming their travel and enjoying their holidays in our island nation”.

Speaking about the initiative, Shevan Goonetilleke, CEO of MillenniumIT ESP said, “We are pleased to be a part of this great initiative in facilitating the ‘Tourist Fuel Pass’ that will contribute towards encouraging travelers to visit Sri Lanka despite the ongoing crisis. This platform launch was made possible by the incredible partnership between public and private sector companies, The Ministry of power and energy, The Ministry of Tourism and lands, Dialog Axiata PLC, Sampath Bank PLC, Ceypetco, and Lanka IOC. And this is just another example of how technology can rapidly create ecosystems to mitigate a national crisis.”

Sri Lanka introduces Tourists Fuel Pass for foreign travelers

October 5, 2022 09:12 pm

Tourists Fuel Pass was introduced this evening allowing foreign tourists coming to Sri Lanka to be able to get fuel according to their needs, outside the QR Code system.

Tourists can obtain their fuel needs from 300 Ceypetco and LIOC fuel stations islandwide, according to Tourism Minister Harin Fernando.

The unveiling took place at the auditorium of Dialog Axiata with the participation of the Ministers in charge of the respective Ministries and the heads of the respective institutions.

With this Tourist Fuel Pass system, foreign tourists coming to this country will be able to get fuel according to their needs, separate from the existing fuel quota system in the country.

Dialog Axiata PLC and MillenniumIT ESP instituted technical cooperation for the introduction of the Tourists Fuel Pass.

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Sri Lanka to issue fuel pass for foreign tourists

About Tourist Fuel pass

Fuel Pass for foreign travellers was introduced in Sri Lanka, allowing tourists coming to Sri Lanka to get fuel according to their requirements above the local Fuel QR Code system. Fuel Pass will encourage tourists visiting Sri Lanka to carry out their tourism activities more efficiently and without limitations.

Where can you Buy or Top-up fuel passes?

The fuel passes are available at Sampath bank counters at the BIA (Bandaranayake International AirPort ) Katunayake, Sri Lanka. Also, International travellers should be able to buy fuel passes from any Sampath bank branch. The fuel passes are made for a prepaid system, and you can purchase a new pass or top-up from any Sampath bank branch with any foreign currency, passport, and travel details. The new pre-paid fuel pass for tourists permits a top-up of a maximum of US$ 300 and travellers can top up the pass with a minimum of US$ 50. The pre-paid cards will be valid for two years. ( Click ⇒ Find a nearby Sampath Bank Branch )

How to find a selected fuel station?

Travellers can receive their fuel requirements from around 300 Ceypetco and LIOC fuel stations islandwide (according to Minister of Tourism Sri Lanka Hon Harin Fernando)

Initially, fuel will be available at 300 CPC and LIOC filling stations, while the network is anticipated to be expanded to 500 outlets by the end of October.

Click ⇒ Find a nearby Ceypetco fuel station Click ⇒ Find a nearby LIOC fuel station.

How to get more information?

Tourists can access https://fuelpass.gov.lk/touristpass or contact the 24-hour hotline1393 for details.

Travellers can dial 1912 ( within Sri Lanka) for fuel pass-related or tourism-related information. In addition, the Information Help Desk, Customer Care Assistant and other relevant organizations can all be contacted through this centralized network.

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Morning Briefing: Asia Pacific Edition

Your wednesday briefing: sri lanka, out of fuel.

Plus lockdowns continue in Shanghai, and India’s community health workers press for a raise.

Share full article

By Amelia Nierenberg

Good morning. We’re covering an economic catastrophe in Sri Lanka, Covid-19 frustration in Shanghai and health equity in India.

Sri Lanka teeters on the edge

Sri Lanka’s economic crisis may be worse than during its three-decade-long civil war: Gas pumps are all but dry , and the new prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, revealed that the mounting disaster is even worse than imagined.

Wickremesinghe, who took on the role last week after widespread protests forced his predecessor into hiding , said on national television on Monday that the government could not find even $5 million to import gasoline. With no money coming, fuel ships remained anchored offshore, their cargoes out of reach.

“The next couple of months will be the most difficult ones of our lives,” Wickremesinghe said.

Details: A large part of the population is struggling to scratch together three meals a day, and cooking gas has been out for weeks. Hospitals are short on lifesaving medicines because pharmaceutical companies have not been paid for months.

Background : Despite years of warnings that the ruling Rajapaksa family was mismanaging the country , the collapse is dizzying. Wickremesinghe said that foreign reserves had stood at $7.5 billion when the Rajapaksas returned to power in 2019. They have since fallen to almost nothing.

Analysis: Other low- and middle-income countries face overlapping catastrophes , as Russia’s war in Ukraine crashes into an economic slowdown in China.

Shanghai still under lockdown

The city’s health officials said that Shanghai’s Covid outbreak was under control . Officials declared that they had achieved “societal zero,” a term used by the Chinese authorities to indicate the absence of uncontrolled community transmission.

But even as state media celebrated the news, some Shanghai residents noted that they were still under strict lockdown measures. After months of open frustration , residents again aired their grievances on Weibo, under a state media post celebrating what it described as a return to normalcy.

The most-liked comment was by a user who described having just taken another mandatory test and not being allowed to leave the neighborhood. Others said they still could not receive deliveries and were running low on essentials.

Details: Some businesses, bus lines and parks have resumed operations, and officials announced a goal of reopening fully by June. But schools remain closed, as do theaters, gyms and other cultural venues. State media acknowledged that even in areas with looser restrictions, residents needed permission to leave their neighborhoods.

Here are the latest updates and maps of the pandemic.

In other updates:

North Korea said the number of suspected infections had neared 1.5 million on Tuesday.

The F.D.A. authorized Pfizer-BioNTech boosters for U.S. children ages 5 to 11.

The health workers healing India

An army of one million female health workers provide basic health care to India’s most vulnerable women and children — sometimes at risk to their own lives.

Now, after helping save hundreds of thousands of people during the pandemic, they are protesting over their meager wages . Right now, the women make about $40 a month, with incentives. They want a monthly base salary of around $150.

A public health researcher said that the health workers have helped bridge enormous gaps in delivering health services in the remotest corners of the country but are still just seen as volunteers.

Background: Public health care remains vastly underfunded; India has a shortage of over 600,000 doctors and two million nurses, according to a recent report. The maternal mortality rate, though still high, has dropped in recent years, in part thanks to the health workers.

Covid-19: These women helped in the early detection of cases and shared information on prevention, countering vaccine hesitancy and helping India carry out one of the largest vaccination drives in the world. Still, dozens died after exposure to the coronavirus, in part because they lacked protective gear.

THE LATEST NEWS

In a risky move that could upend its Brexit deal with the E.U., Britain may unilaterally scrap some regulations that govern trade with Northern Ireland.

Hezbollah lost its majority in Lebanon after voters pulled for independent candidates in parliamentary elections.

Spain is considering paid medical leave for women who suffer from severe period pain.

Mike Bloomberg is making a $242 million investment in renewable energy in 10 developing countries.

The Biden administration lifted some sanctions on Cuba.

Here are live updates .

Ukraine declared an end to its combat mission in Mariupol and ordered some soldiers at the steel plant to surrender to Russian forces.

About 10,000 residents have returned to Bucha , the site of a massacre.

Russia faced a series of setbacks in the east on Monday but began targeting a border city , Sumy, for the first time in weeks.

With Ukraine taking a firmer stance, peace talks with Russia have ground to a halt .

Analysis: Russia spent years overhauling its military. The invasion shows how the effort failed .

A House intelligence subcommittee heard public testimony on unexplained aerial sightings by military pilots and others.

Police arrested a suspect in a shooting last week that wounded three women of Korean descent, an attack that appeared related to two other shootings at Asian businesses.

A man who killed one person and injured five others at a Taiwanese congregation in California was motivated by political hatred , the sheriff said.

A Morning Read

Canadians widely respect Queen Elizabeth II, the ailing 96-year-old British monarch. But many are increasingly skeptical of the monarchy and also dislike Prince Charles, who is touring the country this week to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee.

“The general approach now in Canada is that the monarchy is there, it’s not broken,” one expert said. “Don’t deal with it, but also don’t give it any more room than it actually needs.”

ARTS AND IDEAS

A tooth solves a riddle.

Denisovans, a branch of ancient humans that disappeared roughly 50,000 years ago, are among the ancestors of people alive today in Australia and the Pacific.

But for more than a decade, their migration remained a mystery. Scientists have found Denisovan remains only in Siberia and Tibet, far from the path of humans who moved from Africa through Southeast Asia before reaching the Pacific.

An ancient tooth , found in a mountain cave in Laos, offers an answer by putting Denisovans right in the path of modern humans moving east. “We knew that Denisovans should be here,” a co-author of the new study said. “It’s nice to have some tangible evidence of their existence in this area.”

The researchers estimate that the tooth, a girl’s molar, is between 164,000 and 131,000 years old, making it almost twice as old as the oldest evidence of modern humans found in the region. The discovery puts the Denisovans exactly where they needed to be to interbreed with modern humans in Southeast Asia.

PLAY, WATCH, EAT

What to cook.

Spring rhubarb adds tartness and color to this sheet-pan chicken .

What to Listen to

“For the Birds” is a 242-song set of new compositions based on birdsongs . The first volume drops Friday.

What to Read

“ Who Killed Jane Stanford? ” tries to solve the 1905 murder of the imperious, lonely and hated widow of Leland Stanford, with whom she co-founded Stanford University.

Now Time to Play

Play today’s Mini Crossword , and a clue: Not home (four letters).

Here are today’s Wordle and today’s Spelling Bee .

You can find all our puzzles here .

Correction: Yesterday’s newsletter said that the Australian election would be on Sunday. It is actually on Saturday.

That’s it for today’s briefing. See you next time. — Amelia

P.S. The Times documentary “Elon Musk’s Crash Course” airs Friday on FX and Hulu.

The latest episode of “ The Daily ” is on abortion in Mexico.

You can reach Amelia and the team at [email protected] .

Amelia Nierenberg writes various newsletters for The Times. More about Amelia Nierenberg

Fuel Assistance Program

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As currently there is no restriction on fuel QR system is unavailable.

TOURISM FUEL RECOMMENDATIONS / QR

Our service is confined only to registered SLTDA service providers.

Uploading of image of Registration Certificate and Tour Itinerary, are essential for Vehicle fuel recommendation.

For Generators , weekly QR sent via email on every Monday of the week.

FUEL AVAILABLE PLACES

For Vehicles: CPC Sheds, Selected Army & Navy Bases, SLTB Depots.

For Generators: CPC Sheds, If any issue please contact Area Manager .

Form Link:- tourismfuel.sltda.gov.lk

Tourist drivers need to obtain registration number if the ID card is pending (011-2437800/Ext-346).

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Why are South Asians going to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war?

Young men from India, Nepal and Sri Lanka are on the front lines of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

SRINAGAR, JAMMU AND KASHMIR, INDIA - 2024/02/28: A father of Azad Yousuf Kumar, holds a smart phone displaying the photos of Azad Yousuf Kumar, wearing military uniform, at Pulwama village. Two Kashmiri men Azad Yousuf Kumar 31-years old, and Zahoor Ahmad Sheikh 30-years old, who were lured to Dubai on the promise of jobs and then deceitfully dispatched to Russia by fraudulent recruitment agencies and ordered to fight as mercenaries for Russia on the border with Ukraine. A Kashmiri family learned that their son, Azad Yousuf Kumar, 31- years old, had been injured in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The family said the 31-years old was forced to fight in the war on frontline and urged the Indian government to intervene to help them get their son back. At least a dozen Indian nationals have been duped by the agents into fighting for Russian forces in the country's war with Ukraine. According to the Indian publication 'The Hindu', one Indian national was killed in a missile strike last week. The anguished families of the trapped men have now petitioned the federal government to return them home. (Photo by Faisal Bashir/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Young men from South Asia joined the Russian army in its war against Ukraine after they were promised lucrative salaries and benefits.

Now, they are being deprived of their salaries and are being killed on the front lines – all escape routes are rife with hurdles.

Keep reading

‘waiting for a call from daddy’: sri lankans die in russia’s ukraine war, indians die fighting for russia in ukraine, leaving a trail of helplessness, ‘want to go home’: nepalis fighting for russia in ukraine describe horrors.

Here is more about the South Asian men fighting Russia’s war on Ukraine .

Which countries do foreign fighters in the Russia-Ukraine war come from?

Men predominantly from Nepal , India and Sri Lanka have gone to fight the war as mercenaries.

In March 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin backed the plan to allow foreign volunteers to join Russia in its war against Ukraine. Observers speculated that Russia was looking to recruit fighters from Syria. A Nepali mercenary told Al Jazeera that Nepali, Tajik and Afghan fighters are sent straight to the front line.

While the Nepali government does not have an exact number of Nepalis fighting in Russia, a foreign ministry official estimated that as many as 200 Nepalis were fighting in Russia by the end of 2023.

Some analysts estimated that about a thousand Nepali fighters have been deployed. The numbers are largely based on the complaints received by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nepal from families of recruits, explained Santosh Sharma Poudel, a foreign policy analyst and co-founder of Nepal Institute for Policy Research.

The unofficial number of Indians fighting in Ukraine is estimated to be about 100, local media has reported.

Several Sri Lankans living in Russia told Al Jazeera that hundreds of their compatriots were now serving Russia’s military.

Three Nepali men, ready to go to battleground in Russia-occupied Ukraine. (Courtesy:Atit Chettri)

Why are South Asians going to fight the war?

Several men who went to fight the war told Al Jazeera the reason behind it was their financial circumstances. “My family’s economic condition is miserable so I thought this would be a good breakthrough,” said Bimal Bhandari*, a 32-year-old mercenary from Nepal.

The Sri Lankan men are not joining the war because they believe in the Russian cause, but because it is an opportunity to make money amid economic turmoil, said Gamini Viyangoda, a Sri Lankan writer, political analyst and columnist.

In Sri Lanka, the economic crisis and political disruption in 2022 resulted in a hunger crisis by 2023. Enormous foreign debts and rising inflation led to shortages of fuel, medication and food.

A retired Sri Lankan soldier, now a recruit for Russia, told Al Jazeera on the condition of anonymity that he was less worried about the prospect of losing his life by joining the Russian army than he was about the economic hardships in Sri Lanka.

Soldiers currently serving in the Sri Lankan army are also eager to leave their posts and go to Russia, if given the opportunity. A soldier told Al Jazeera that he makes a meagre $65 a month after tax deductions.

Poudel said that there is a trend among Nepalis to go abroad to the Middle East or Europe in search of lucrative income because “the average per capita income in Nepal is just around $1,000 per year.” In comparison, the advertised salary to join the Russian army is “about $4,000 a month, which is huge,” he added.

“Not all of them are getting the advertised amount, though the pay is significantly higher than what they would get over here,” said Poudel.

Nipuna Silva, a Sri Lankan soldier who quit his army to fight for Russia in Ukraine because of better pay, is believed to have been killed on the frontline in Ukraine [Handout by Silva's family]

Which side are they fighting on?

Most South Asian recruits are fighting on the Russian lines.

However, some Sri Lankans have also fought on Ukraine’s side. After three Sri Lankan men fighting on Ukraine’s side were killed, approximately 20 others who were serving with the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine left the unit, according to Lahiru Hathurusinghe, 25, who is believed to be the only Sri Lankan still attached to the Ukrainian side.

How are South Asians recruited into the war?

South Asians looking for employment or opportunities in Europe have been being recruited through social media including calls for Nepalis, Indians and Sri Lankans to be recruited into the Russian army have been posted on TikTok.

Nepali men told Al Jazeera that when they contacted the TikTok account, they were connected to an agent running a travel agency in Nepal. Hemil Mangukiya, 23, from India’s Surat, found a job as a helper in the Russian army through a YouTube video posted by Dubai-based Faisal Khan.

The travel agencies also exacted hefty fees from the men interested in going to Russia.

A Nepali man recruited in October 2023 was charged $9,000 and in exchange was promised a monthly salary of about $3,000, along with benefits including Russian citizenship for himself and his family.

Sri Lankans were also promised monthly salaries up to $3,000 and the prospect of Russian citizenship.

Nine-year Sri Lankan military veteran, Nipuna Silva* who was already in debt, borrowed $4,000 to pay an agency that got him a job in Russia. He later joined the Russian army.

Mangukiya from Surat paid $3,600 to his recruiting agents and was offered $1,800 for a job as an assistant.

When Bhandari reached Russia, he was dropped at a recruitment camp and signed a one-year contract to fight as a soldier.

While many Nepalis headed to Russia directly from capital city Kathmandu, some were working as migrant workers in the Middle East.

How are South Asian recruits treated?

While the recruits were promised an intensive, three-month training programme, they say they received less than a month of combat drills in the Rostov region in southwestern Russia bordering Ukraine.

“I think they have been trained for very few days, in some cases not even a week,” said Poudel. “And then they are sent to the front lines, basically as expendables.”

Owing to their lack of training, Nepali men who spoke to Al Jazeera thought they would be used as backup. However, they were pushed to front lines. “The Russians just commanded us from behind. We were like their shield,” 34-year-old recruit, Ratna Karki* told Al Jazeera.

When Bhandari attempted to escape, he was caught and detained, as were many others – caught by Russia’s strict vigilance.

While Mangukiya’s parents had been assured that their son would be safe from any fighting, he was placed on the front lines.

Silva from Sri Lanka signed a one-year contract in January and on February 19, his wife received a $1,640 payment from Russia. Days later, she found out that Silva had died in a drone attack.

At least five Sri Lankan recruits have died in the war. At least 12 Nepalis have been killed, and five others captured by Ukraine. At least two Indians have been killed on Ukrainian front lines.

What is the solution?

Nepali police have already arrested people accused of smuggling men to Russia, based on tip-offs.

The Foreign Ministry in Nepal has maintained contact with the Russian government as it attempts to repatriate recruits from Nepal, as well as retrieve dead bodies. Additionally, the ministry has urged Russia to provide financial compensation to the families of the deceased.

Randhir Jaiswal, a spokesperson from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi told reporters that on March 8, the Central Bureau of Investigation “busted a major human trafficking network conducting searches in several cities and collecting incriminating materials. A case of human trafficking has been registered against several agents.”

New Delhi-based international lawyer and researcher, Aakash Chandran told Al Jazeera that the Indian government should repatriate the Indian citizens who joined the Russian army voluntarily, alongside those who were forced into the army.

The government is obliged to investigate and prosecute those citizens for any commission of international crime, including war crimes committed in Ukraine during their participation in armed conflict on behalf of Russia, “a country with which India is at peace”.

Chandran added that those who signed up to work as army helpers or porters, but were duped and pushed to the front lines, must be accorded the status of “prisoners of war” if captured by the Ukrainian army as per Geneva Conventions.

He said that for those unwillingly duped or forced into armed service, any contract signed is not enforceable.

However, for the people who voluntarily signed one-year contracts, things are a bit more complex.

The question becomes more diplomatic than legal, and it depends on how much the state is willing to make the case for repatriation.

Poudel said that it is also difficult to repatriate every Nepali who has gone, because some of them “go through illicit channels to Russia”.

He added that the preventive measures taken by Nepali authorities may have reduced the number of Nepalis joining the war in Ukraine, but have not stopped the flow entirely.

“In the longer term, I think as far as there are little economic opportunities at home, people would want to go abroad, seeking, better payment, better jobs and a better life. And that’s very hard to control,” said Poudel.

“Therefore, I think, in the longer term, there’s no alternative to creating opportunities at home.”

*Some names have been changed to protect the identities of individuals worried about their safety.

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