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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.
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Members of the National Student Parliament meet PM
Members of the National Student Parliament met Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Monday [02nd of February] at Temple Trees.
The representatives of the National Student Parliament, representing schools from across the island, visited the Temple Trees following their visit to the Presidential Secretariat and the Parliament.
Expressing her views on the occasion, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated,
“The new education reforms were recently initiated starting from Grade One. Discussions are currently underway to include students entering Grade Six this year into the new education reform process in the future. The education reforms will not be halted, and the government is committed to implementing them in a systematic manner without shortcomings”.
She further noted that the reforms are being carried out under five main pillars, with the government’s key objective being to reduce disparities and provide children with quality education, while also nurturing a socially responsible community enriched with human values such as compassion, love for the environment, and a strong sense of civic responsibility.
The occasion was attended by the Deputy Director of Education Kasun Gunarathne, along with officials from the Ministry of Education and representatives of the National Student Parliament.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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Mrs. I.J. Aberathne appointed Director General of the Department of Trade and Investment Policy
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution presented by the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, to appoint Mrs. I.J. Aberathne to the post of Director General of the Department of Trade and Investment Policy with immediate effect.
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Although the teaching of art subjects such as music, dance, art, and drama under aesthetic education continues in the Sri Lankan school system, it has been observed that there is a severe shortage of equipment required for this purpose in many schools. Furthermore, a situation concerning the lack of modern equipment suitable for the needs of the children has also arisen, and it has been reported that most equipment available at present is outdated and dilapidated. It has been observed that this condition has an adverse effect on the quality of the aesthetic education and overall personality development of the children.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution presented by the Prime Minister in her capacity as the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education to implement a project for supplying aesthetic equipment for the promotion of aesthetic education in schools under an estimated cost of Rs. 1,215 million during the period of 2026 to 2028.
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