SJB lodges complaint against Udayanga, Ukrainian tourists over alleged transgressions

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya youth movement yesterday lodged a complaint with Police Headquarters against former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga over his Ukrainian tourism project.

In a written complaint submitted to IGP Chandana Wickramaratne, SJB MP and Samagi Tharuna Balawegaya Chairman, Mayantha Dissanayake said certain photographs circulating online indicated that the Ukrainian tourists facilitated by Weeratunga, had acted in violation of Sri Lanka’s archeological laws and quarantine regulations.

Dissanayake visited the Police Headquarters this morning with SJB Youth Wing Propaganda Secretary Rasika Jayakody and Attorney-at-Law Madhawa Jayawardena.

Weeratunga and a group of Ukrainian tourists were seen posing for a photograph near the famous Sigiriya frescoes violating a ban imposed by the Central Cultural Fund in 2015. The CCF prohibited tourists from taking pictures at the site as flashlights could cause damage to the historic frescoes.

The SJB complaint says Weeratunga and the Ukranian tourists violated the Archeological Act. Citing multiple media reports published recently, the SJB youth movement has requested the IGP to probe the allegations that Ukrainian tourists violated the quarantine regulations and safety guidelines gazetted by the government.