Udayanga Weeratunga

Udayanga Weeratunga
Born Sri Lanka
Nationality Sri Lankan
Education Nalanda College Colombo
Occupation Businessmen
Known for former Sri Lankan Ambassador Russian Federation
Relatives Mahinda Rajapaksa
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa
Jaliya Wickramasuriya
Prasanna Wickramasuriya

Udayanga Weeratunga is a Sri Lankan businessman who is the former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation. Weeratunga is a first cousin of Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is the former President of Sri Lanka[1] and he presented his Letter of Credence to then-President of Russia Vladimir Putin on 16 November 2006.[2]

Weeratunga is accused by the Ukrainian government of arms sales to the separatist rebels fighting government forces in Ukraine.[3][4] The Sri Lankan government is currently investigating these allegations and withdrawn his diplomatic passport but his whereabouts are not known to the Sri Lankan authorities.[5] The Financial Crimes Investigation Division applied for, but did not receive, an Interpol warrant for his arrest on 30 September 2016.[6]

Sixteen banks accounts of Weeratunga were suspended by the courts in January 2017 due to allegations of fraud in the purchase of Mig-27 fighters. The case is ongoing without Weeratunga not attending the court. [7]Investigations had revealed that funds amounting to a total of US$1.5 million had been deposited at various times to the sixteen accounts belonging to him with the Sri Lankan Air Force claiming that they are unable to locate the original purchase contract, which is said to have been signed in the presence of the Weeratunga.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ MiG deal crash lands on Defence Ministry
  2. ↑ "Vladimir Putin accepted letters of credentials from foreign states' new ambassadors to Russia.". Presidential Press and Information Office. 16 November 2006. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
  3. ↑ "Ex Lankan envoy faces probe for arms deals with Ukraine rebels". The Hindu. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 2015-03-30.
  4. ↑ Sooriyagoda, Lakmal (26 September 2016). "INTERPOL warrant on Udayanga?: Court will decide on Sep.30". Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  5. ↑ "Police trying to withdraw passport to find Udayanga.". Lankanewsweb.net. 12 April 2015. Retrieved 2015-04-12.
  6. ↑ "Court Says ‘No’ To FCID’s Request For Warrant To Arrest Udayanga Weeratunga". Colombo Telegraph. 30 September 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  7. ↑ https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/16-bank-accounts-of-udayanga-weeratunga-to-be-frozen-due-to-mig-fraud/
  8. ↑ "MiG deal; Udayanga received funds from Panama, Latvia: FCID". Retrieved 8 April 2017.
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