SJB Youth Movement lodges Police complaint against Ukrainian tourism pilot project

Saturday, 23 January 2021 00:25 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya youth movement yesterday lodged a complaint with the Police Headquarters against former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga over the 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 had indicated that the Ukrainian tourists facilitated by Weeratunga had acted in violation of Sri Lanka’s archaeological laws and quarantine regulations.

MP Dissanayake visited the Police Headquarters last 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 flash lights could cause damage to the historic frescoes.

The Police complaint said Weeratunga and tourists had violated the Archaeological Act by violating the ban. Citing multiple media reports published recently, the SJB youth movement requested the IGP to probe whether the Ukrainian tourists had violated the quarantine regulations and safety guidelines gazetted by the Government.