News

Large number of Lankans listed as missing are living abroad under different names – FM

Published

5 years ago

2021/08/13

Leader of the House and Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday said that there were reports that a large number of persons believed to have gone missing during the war were living abroad under different names.

They had left the country through unconventional channels during the last phase of the conflict and immediately after that, the Minister told The Island.

“We have reports to prove that hundreds of persons said to have gone missing are in fact living abroad. Their names are on the lists of persons who allegedly disappeared. We have asked for information from the countries that harbour them as refugees and asylum seekers but not all the countries are liable to furnish us with their details. Only the countries that have entered into mutual agreements covering the particular subject with Sri Lanka could legally provide us with those details.

“We cannot demand such information. In the meantime the names of those who fled the country are on the lists of missing persons. Making use of those lists some anti-Sri Lankan forces including so-called non-profits working on human rights and related matters continue to raise that issue in international forums. But the truth is those said to have disappeared are now living in the very same countries.”

The Foreign Minister said that the government was strengthening relations with other nations as per the mandate given by the people. “We hope that we can convince the international bodies that these allegations against us are not true,” Minister Gunawardena said.

Gunawardena said that the government had already offered to give the families of the disappeared “Certificates of Absence” so that they could get some compensation. But this has been rejected by the families who insist that the government must investigate and tell them where their relations are and whether they are dead or alive.

Minister Gunawardena said that it was not possible to trace the missing and the government could not consider them dead and give the next of kin their death certificates. He said that there had been instances of persons reportedly missing from 1988, returning home in recent years. “What would have happened if we had issued their death certificates,” the minister queried.

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Treasury chief’s citizenship details sought from Australia

Published

14 mins ago

2026/04/29

Sahan Weerasooriya

Nagananda / Harshana

New controversy erupts over missing USD 2.5 mn:

Public interest activist Nagananda Kodituwakku has sought citizenship details of Finance Ministry Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma from the Department of Home Affairs, Australia.

According to a letter dated 28 April, addressed to the relevant department, Solicitor England and Wales Kodituwakku sought the required information in terms of Section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act No 3 of 1982 of Australia. Suriyapperuma is also the Secretary to the Treasury.

The former Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Suriyapperuma (from November 2024 to June 2025) is embroiled in a deepening controversy over the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.

The leader of the Vinivida Foundation said that he intended to move court against Suriyapperuma for entering Parliament through the NPP National List in violation of the country’s Constitution (Article 91(1)(d)(xiiii).

Kodituwakku said: “This is clearly an accountability and integrity issue and violation of the Constitution of Sri Lanka and also this act contravenes the law of a member in the Commonwealth.”

USD 2.5 mn paid to a third party was meant to be an instalment of a loan taken from Australia. Suriyapperuma neither responded to an SMS nor answered his hand phone.

Geetha Kumarasinghe (UPFA/Galle District) and Diana Gamage (SJB National List) lost their seats in 2017 and 2024, respectively, over citizenship issues.

Meanwhile, public interest group ‘Free Lawyers’ that exposed the theft of Treasury funds questioned the failure on the part of Dr. Harsha de Silva, Chairman of Committee on Public Finance (CoPF), to pressure President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to temporarily remove Suriyapperuma to facilitate unhindered investigations.

On behalf of ‘Free Lawyers’, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon yesterday expressed concern over the way the CoPF, under SJBer de Silva’s leadership, handled the issue at hand. Issuing an open letter, Tennakoon, urged the CoPF chief to explain his stand on a spate of vital issues which needed to be addressed without any further delay.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

News

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake handing over a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura to Ven Bhikku Pannakara

Published

16 mins ago

2026/04/29

Sahan Weerasooriya

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake handing over a sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura to Ven Bhikku Pannakara (Sue Tue Nhan) at the conclusion of the 161 km ‘International Peace Walk’ in Colombo yesterday. The Bo-sapling will be taken to the US by the spiritual leader. Pic by Sujata Jayaratne

News

USD 625,000 meant for US Postal Service goes missing

Published

17 mins ago

2026/04/29

Sahan Weerasooriya

Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday revealed that a USD 625,000 payment made by Sri Lanka’s Department of Posts to the US Postal Service (USPS) had not been received by the intended party.

The declaration was made at the post-Cabinet media briefing.

According to the Minister, an investigation has been initiated into the incident.

The Minister said that an investigation was underway within the Sri Lanka Postal Department regarding the missing funds paid to the US Postal Service.

He added that the US Postal Service has indicated the non-receipt of a payment amounting to USD 625,000, and that investigations were being conducted by both the Postal Department and the CID to determine how the incident occurred.