P’ment updated on efforts to nab Jaliya, Udayanga and Mahendran

By Ashwin Hemmathagama 

Three top brass Sri Lankan officers charged for fraud avoiding prosecution by taking refuge overseas came into the limelight yesterday, leading the House to engage in a heated debate. 

Explaining the action taken to bring these three individuals – former Sri Lankan Ambassador to United States Jaliya Wickramasuriya, former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga, and former Central Bank Governor Arjun Mahendran – to the island, while rejecting that any unwarranted support was being extended to any of them, the Government listed the progress.

The Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, rejecting the charges raised by UPFA joint opposition group member MP Bandula Gunawardena, stated that the Government had taken the maximum possible action as per the legal provisions and also obtained support from Interpol.

“I assure this Parliament that our Government will not take action to safeguard any wrongdoer. We have given the necessary authority to the law enforcement institutions to take action against those who are responsible for fraud and corruption neglecting their status and the political affiliations. We will not allow anybody to interfere in this mechanism. But there can be certain delays, which will be reduced with our actions already taken. The recently-passed Judicature (Amendment) Act is an important measure in this process,” said the Prime Minister.

Jaliya Wickramasuriya

Wickramasuriya, a close relative of former President Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa, held the high office of the Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United States during 2008-2014. He was charged for financial misappropriation of over $ 300,000 during a transaction that obtained some new premises for the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington DC. He was arrested on 8 November 2016 but was able to be bailed out on 20 March 2017. 

In the meantime, the legal action has prevented him from disposing all his properties in the island. However, showcasing health reasons he has obtained permission from Court to leave island for medical treatments on 17 July 2017 under surety bond. Since then Jaliya Wickramasuriya and the two persons who signed for his surety bond, H.M. Priyanga Dilani Wijesinghe and Deepika Kumuduni Wikramasuriya, have avoided presenting themselves before Court by staying out of the island.

Udayanga Weeratunga

Weeratunga, a close relative of MP Mahinda Rajapaksa, was the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia during 2006-2015. He was charged for financial misappropriation for a shady deal which took place in obtaining MiG fighter jets for the Sri Lanka Air Force. All his assets in the country are frozen as a result of a Court order and summons were served electronically. He is also avoiding returning to Sri Lanka and Interpol help has been sought for extradition.

Arjun Mahendran

Mahendran, a Singaporean citizen, was Central Bank Governor under the Unity Government and was charged in the controversial bond scam. Having returned to Singapore, Mahendran is now avoiding returning to Sri Lanka to stand trial.