Wartime FM says SL envoy’s conduct disgrace to entire country

Controversial payments made to US broker never probed

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Wartime Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said that shocking revelations made in a US court as regards former Sri Lankan Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya had caused irreparable damage to the reputation of SriLanka and humiliated the country.

Wickramasuriya pleaded guilty recently to diverting and attempting to embezzle $332,027 from the government of Sri Lanka during its 2013 purchase of a new Embassy building in Washington, D.C.

Bogollagama said: “It’s rather shameful and has caused irreparable damage to Sri Lanka’s good name, in Washington. If our envoy can steal from your/his own Government what impressions are we creating of being a Country of values and integrity. This will remain a dent in our recognition factor not only in the US but across the World. It’s also a severe blow to the reputation of our own diplomatic fraternity.”

U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Columbia Tanya S. Chutkan is scheduled to sentence Wickramasuriya on July 20, 2022.

Well informed sources told

The Island that the then Ambassador had returned the money to the government after the then President Mahinda

Rajapaksa raised the issue after it was brought to his notice in 2013.

The Island sought an explanation from the Foreign Ministry in this regard. Asked whether the Foreign Ministry would on behalf of the GoSL initiate action against Wickramasuriya on the basis of a US court ruling, a senior spokesperson pointed out that a case is pending before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court as regards the alleged embezzlement of funds.

The Island raised the issue against the backdrop of a Los Angeles-based venture capitalist and political fundraiser Imaad Shah Zuberi being found guilty of cheating the GoSL out of millions of dollars promising to rebuild the country’s image following the end of the war with the LTTE. Zuberi was ordered to pay $15,705,080 in restitution and a criminal fine of $1.75 million. Zuberi cheated GoSL to the tune of USD 6.6 mn and Wickramasuriya had been involved in the Zuberi deal.

Less than two years later, the US moved an accountability resolution at the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) against Sri Lanka. Seven years later, Sri Lanka is still embroiled in that process.

Responding to The Island query whether there had been an investigation into the payments made to Zuberi during Mahinda Rajapaksha’s presidency (second term) at any level, the spokesperson said that the Legal Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs could not find any information in that regard.