Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Washinton Jaliya Wickramasuriya, a first cousin of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has been prosecuted in the US for five counts of charges ranging from wire fraud to immigration offences.
The case marks a new low in Sri Lankan foreign service as this is the first time a Sri Lankan diplomat is facing prosecution from the country he was posted to.
Jaliya and Mahinda
Wickramasuriya, a businessman by profession, served as the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Washington for six years, until the Rajapaksa family fell out of power in January 2015.
In an Exclusive story, Economy Next, quoting US Justice department documents said the Sri Lankan authorities were keen to ensure that the very serious nature of charges against Wickramasuriya were made public to prevent a Rajapaksa administration in Colombo restoring his diplomatic immunity to avoid prosecution.
Economy Next, quoting a US government document said, “In the last 10 days or so, there has been a change in the government of Sri Lanka. Several media outlets have referred to the matter as a constitutional crisis.
We have been advised by the United States officials in Sri Lanka that there will be a meeting to discuss and/or determine the immunity (of Wickramasuriya) issue on Sunday, November 11, 2018 and they believe that advising the Sri Lankan authorities of the fact that the defendant has been indicted will be of relevance and assistance in making their determination.”
Wickramasuriya was also arrested in late 2016 by the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division over misusing state funds during his tenure in Washington.
Satyajith / December 25, 2018
These squanderers with high end contacts, will never be tried in Sri Lanka, whilst either of major political parties in power. Hats off US, at least you are performing the duty of our President or Minister of Law and Order.
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Anonymous / December 25, 2018
Now arrest the Rajapaksas and all those involved in CoupLk for treason…
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Dilmah / December 25, 2018
Economy Next needs to also ask why if Navaz Sharif former Pakistan, Prime Minister and , Najib former PM of Malaysia have been imprisoned for the 1mdb Development BOND scams, when will Mahinda Jarapassa and Bonscam Ranil be held accountable for their Financial Crimes?
Why is the IMF that is supposed to be in charge of financial governance, and so called international community that also funds Colombo NGOs turning a blind eye to high level corruption in Sri Lanka by past and present regimes that are beggaring the country in order to asset strip it and sell its strategic marine, land and energy resources to bond traders?
IMF is supposed to do financial governance but has done nothing to put corruption Conditionalities. Instead it wants more taxes and fuel price formulas so that poor people pay for the greed and theft of national wealth by the rich.
Those named in Panama Papers are still scot free..
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Maharage, / December 25, 2018
Satyajith,
Mahinda or GoTa will make this uneducated and uncouth idiot Wickramasuriya the Minister of Foreign Affairs if they come to power again.
God Bless Sinhala Buddhists who are ready to accept Mahinda, Gota, Namal, Basil as Sri Lanka’s next regime.
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Amarasiri / December 26, 2018
Satyajith,
Only 5 counts? Amazing!
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Buramphisincho / December 27, 2018
Their behaviours were beyond all ethics and morals but their media units covered them from being spread to the grass eating majority folks.
That is how Rajapakshepolitics took ground in the country. But they never thought that would never be permaenent.
Today, all these crime handlings come to surface though being late.
This man Jaliya W is said to be an another LOW LIFE whose credentials are no means appropriate him to be a clerical clerk in a diplomatic institituion.
But those days those who came to power was ONEs close to RAJAKAHSES mafia boss but the QUALIFICATIONS of the person had been secondary.
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Naman / December 25, 2018
USA must be pleased to know that Rajapaksa clan must have looted their country and transfered their money to the western countries, Dubai and HK.
GoSL should go after this money
Haven’t the Dual citizens ( Basil and Gota) done anything wrong—Tax evasions by Green card holders ???
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nimal fernando / December 25, 2018
Sri lanka has 22,000,000 people. Out of all of them Mahinda found this man to be the envoy to the most powerful nation on earth.
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Why are people so reluctant to give credit to Mahinda for having the great knack to always pick the most suitable person for a position?
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For a change, at least he should stop coloring his mustache
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What a bummer, the people are prevented from seeing the real man behind the great talent.
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What say you, envoy-Dayan? Now, don’t go silent on me!
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Naman / December 25, 2018
Let’s make Dayan J to wake up and write about current Supreme Court decisions. DJ needs to come back to SL and help Mahinda and Sirisena to campaign for them
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Dr Dolittle / December 27, 2018
Naman,
“Haven’t the Dual citizens ( Basil and Gota) done anything wrong—Tax evasions by Green card holders ???”
A US citizen of course needs no Green Card (permanent residency) but US Citizens and Green Card holders are supposed to file tax returns on their global income and assets. Feel free to inform IRS potential tax evasion.
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Lena / December 25, 2018
Mahinda Rajapakse devalued every segment of public service.Jaliya first cousin a tea trader to US and another first cousin Restaurant Manager to Russia. Both are wanted for frauds and are absconding.
Sira who was expecting to go six feet under if MR won has embraced him now
Both must be rejected
Ranil too must step down and a younger person must be named if the country is to move forward. Ranil must be there to guide as he is an experienced recognised educated leader unlike Sira and MR
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K.Pillai / December 25, 2018
{“New Low In Foreign Service: Rajapaksa’s First Cousin Ex-Ambassador Wickramasuriya Prosecuted In US On Five Counts”}
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How about Udayanga Weeratunga? Ambassador-Porter ASP Liyanage?
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H K Seneviratne / December 25, 2018
Not a single person appointed by MR be considered a unblemished character
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Janaka / December 25, 2018
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2
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Subra Jayahanthan / December 25, 2018
It runs in the family and is incurable Bensen
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nalmen / December 25, 2018
look out dayan
the present foreign minister is not a pambaya like the previous one
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Vijekumar / December 25, 2018
My God nepotism and looting is a accepted norm in Sri Lanka. People accept and ligitimised and elect the the crooks and we cannot do anything.
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Sena / December 25, 2018
So US and the western countries know that Rajapaksa clans are the destabilising force in Sri Lanka, and they decided to take them on to put a break for it. It’s a clear signal for what’s in store for the other US citizens. – Gota and Basil -, if they play their games of creating choas and mayhem any longer in country.
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whywhy / December 25, 2018
Class A evil is the creation of EXECUTIVE PRESIDENCY . From J R J to Sira , the job
was too much to carry ! Anybody who talks of real development needs to first fix
this problem ! It is top priority but what’s going on in the circle is the talk about the
next president ! PARLIAMENT MUST BE MADE THE SOLE AUTHORITY OF POWER .
To Srilanka , under present situation , even a ceremonial president could be a
headache to the parliament ! It is because CORRUPTION RULES THE DAY IN THE
COUNTRY AND IT STARTS FROM THE TOP FOR ALL TO SEE . So , the country needs
to slide back to Dudly era development . More unnecessary developments have only
led to high proportion of CORRUPTION in all areas of life . JOBS ARE SOUGHT AND
CREATED FOR UNLAWFUL EARNINGS .
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Punchinilame / December 25, 2018
Speaking of Gota, see W) below, in this List of Corruption of a Ruler & family, available to the FreeMedia:
The Rajapakse and extended family`s corrupt activity during the 9 year rule is legendary. a) Issue of 1000 diplomatic Passports during 9 yrs. of Rule. b) D.A.Rajapakse Museum construction Rs. 110 Mil. under Def. Secy. Signature, undertaken by Navy & LR&D Com. c) Purchase of Gowers Pvt. Ltd. by a Parliamentarian in the Family d) Commonwealth Games Trip of 140 persons & exp. of Rs. 358 mil. thereof including a CB Governor and a Hon. Parliamentarian- e) Rs. 12,500 mil. found dumped in Temple Trees during Dec.2014/Jan.2015 f) Prof. S.Wijeyasooriyas allegation re the sale & distribution of 40 Kg. Gold, also Siriliya A/c. g) An ex-CJ admitting corrupt (?) verdict on “Helping Hambantota” Case! h) An MR Co-ordinating Secy. holding multiple jobs arrested with 10 Gold Biscuits,(1106 gm) by FCID i) CICT paid Rs.19.41 mil. to Pushpa Rajapakse Foundation on 21-5-12 before Cololmbo South Terminal Contract commenced. j) Min. Rambukwella`s Rs. 20 Mil. Ex Presidents Fund plus Insurance obtained over Med. Treatment in 2012. k) Rs.372 Mil. Fraud by Diplomat U.Weeratunga in 2006 in MiG purchases under ex DS Gota then.
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vithura / December 25, 2018
When the whole clan is corrupt, what does one expect?
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JD / December 25, 2018
I say again, this happenened in Nicaragua. Orteaga’s brother was workinmg agaINST orTEAGA but he was in the USA. Orteaga won because people supported him. Protesters were ransacking the country.
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vithura / December 26, 2018
….and you see where Nicragua is now. With views such as yours and people like MR & MS, SL too would be in the same league as Nicaragua.
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Mallaiyuran / December 26, 2018
There are many thing behind this, it seems. While Alibaba was reigning Lankawe, a large team was planning the frauds and executing individually – Some media had suggested as much as 2000 cronies. So, it was beyond loopholes in their plans and individual’s arbitrary flawed executions. It is only flat out crime and theft and loot and murders and rapes which saved one another in turns. There was nothing anything really smart in those crimes. From Ranil to every politician actively protected these crooks. That is how they stayed protected from these open crimes, even after losing the power. They are worst idiots. Sunday Times (Iqbal) leaked the MiG dela; they killed Lasantha; Sued “Leader” at court. When Sumanthiran wanted to cross examine the plaintiff they closed the courts. Is that smart to kill Sunday Leader editor for exposing the fraud then suing for libel? By all counts the second one would have proved who killers were in the first instance. But the anarchy they created in the country made them feel brave to do both.
This is what we have come to know in Jaliya’s madness too. He was a diplomat; didn’t maintain that protocol; Got involved in the war and exchanged telephone conversation; did business in US; handled fraudulent transactions. He left to country when the things started to get tighter. Then a case was filed in Lankawe, it seem, to protect him from being demanded to extradition by US. Mangala and Ranil have had Kariyawasam and Jaliya both on diplomats’ immunity list for some time.
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Mallaiyuran / December 26, 2018
While government was struggling to protect Jaliya even by withdrawing the ambassador to US, the idiot Jaliya dodged the Lankawe case and ran to USA and got caught himself. (His wife and sister, if deported without citizenship, may face Lankawe court for the guarantor-ship they dodged) At that point it became beyond Ranils’ capacity to protect Jaliya. This also could be a reason Old Royals removing Ranil and inserting them there, with the last hope to turn around things. It did not work. The Modaya was suing Ranil’s government to reinstate immunity, while he dodged the safety valve case and went to US. We understand that Jaliya has signed an immunity waiver, but still filed the case in Lankawe. Can somebody figure out the why Modayas did all these Chess pawn movements with ambassadors, back and forth court cases and other complicated juggles when he had signed a paper in 2014 to waiver immunity.
One explanation could be that Jaliya paid for a high powered lawyer to work out the citizenship while he was still an ambassador in USA. He just signed the forms without reading believing on the reputation of the Lawyer firm. There are news suggesting Jaliya might have been on the watch even during the war time. Apparently US noticed him signing the waiver, but put it aside to use it only if a need arise. Poor Jaliya had no clue, but wanted to hide in US. His best protection would have been losing Lankawe FCID’s corruption charges and go to few days to Hotel Hospital.
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Ruwan / December 26, 2018
Jaliya and Mahinda…. like Jaadiyata moodiya…. both look pretty drunk in the picture:-)
Jaliya escaped SL with a bogus claim that he is having eye problems/need treatment in the US, hoping that he could escape the bite from GOSL but the US bit him. First casualty of illegal coup by MR/MS. Coup expedited the process.
This guy Jaliya is big crook. In addition to the sum mentioned in this article, he has defrauded several Sri Lankans living in the US to the tune of millions of USD.
Now…. Jaliya can spend sometime in jail. No prison hospital beds but US prisons are far better than SL’s prison hospital facilities:-).
Well…. all should wish Jaliya a great time in whatever the prison he ends up in.
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Gamini Perera / December 26, 2018
Why are you afraid to post the copy of the Actual indictment filed with the DC courts,that I sent. this is a public document.but with all your bravado, you are still afraid of the Rajapaksa clan.All fart and no shit.as usual we Sri Lankand talk the talk but dont have the guts to walk the walk.
I challenge you to post this comment
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roy / December 26, 2018
Mara is the biggest thief in Srilanka history ,used people like Jaliya one of the his 40 thieves, robbed the country created racial hatred among communities . The spineless president joker has now joined the Medamulana clan to loot the country to ground zero….You can fool the people carrying babies ,hugging oldies ,painting temples but you can’t keep on doing it . A Wood pecker keeps pecking most of the trees ,when it pecks the wrong tree it pecks the wrong tree it is stuck.
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Spring Koha / December 26, 2018
This man was, in his time, the joker in the Washington DC diplomatic pack. Single-handedly, he lowered Sri Lanka’s standingin DC. Only the antics of Slapper Sajith could match the efforts of this sharp operator. This slippery eel managed to wrangle his way out of Colombo, I rather doubt that will manage the same trick in the US.
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Real Revolutionist / December 26, 2018
It’s the duty of Sri Lankan authorities to prosecute anybody committed crimes/mal-practices in Sri Lankan soil.
The US will prosecute anybody, committed crime in their soil, they have a right for that.
The main culprits are RW & the clan; so hold them responsible for failure to prosecute Rajapakses.
As RW has minus credibility now, we want everything new to proceed prosecution.
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Yahapalanaya / December 26, 2018
US Green card holder (PR) or a citizen should disclose if he/she holds more than $10,000 offshore during annual the annual tax filling. In fact this clause is applicable to even non-PR & Citizens such as students who are considered residents for tax purposes (ie 180 days of physical presence in US). This is the law and violators are severely punished . In the past even powerful senators have been jailed once found guilty. If GR & BR have violated this I am surprise as to why these two have not been prosecuted by IRS (Federal Tax Dept.) so far. I am sure plenty of complaints would have been made against them.
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Gune / December 26, 2018
What can you expect from anybody coming from the Rajapakse family line other than for being crooks who work for their interests under the guise of loving the country. They have robbed enough and put this country to utter shame. Just look at this incident involving wikremasuriya !!!
Is this what Wimal and Gammanpila call as western conspiracies ?????
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Diogenes / December 26, 2018
New words for The Pohottu Dictionary:
raajapaksakaranaya = plundering
gotaakaranaya = making people disappear
ragbikaranaya = what happened to Thajudeen
deshapremaya = robbery
Please help compile ..
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punchinilame / December 26, 2018
Continued (Part 11)- Decade of corruption by a ruling family:
Latest:http://www.sundaytimes.lk/170108/columns/udayangas-16-bank-accounts-frozen-total-balance-rs-225-million-223301.htm l) Vihanage Rpt. Re Security Forces Headqrts.Bldg. and overpayment of Rs.173Mil. by the then D.Secy. m) The real value of Suriyawewa Cricket Stadium estimated at Rs. 852 mn by valuation officers though the previous government claimed to have spent a staggering Rs. 4,500 mln. on the project, says Hon.Ravi K. n) FCID updates –Case No.64/15 Basil R. Rs.396 Mil. In 3 Property purchases o) FCID No.17/15 Yoshita R in 8 Transaction totalling Rs. 707 Mil., p) FCID Case No.138/15 Namal R in 16 transactions totalling Rs. 347 Mil., q) FCID 82/15 Champika Karunarathna a contact of Namal Rs. 5 Mil. involving Extortions. r) Rajapakse Regime`s 2 visits to Seychelles costing Rs. 100 Mil., using 3 charted flights with 97 members and hiring of 68 luxury vehicles etc. s) Encashment of 18 cheques totalling Rs. 218 Million by Presidential Staff during MRs watch. t) Daisy Forrest (94 yrs.) aunt of Shiranthi re purchase of lands for Rs. 49.52 Mil. from 9 others – u) 3.386 Billion US dollars in Dubai Bank in the names of Namal, Piyadasa and Vass, the screen shots of which were in the hands of a SL born Bank Manager there, who apparently managed these funds.
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Mano / December 27, 2018
Just a Minute please!
Should we not look at this from an angle of muscle twisting by the US
I wish we should do.
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Dr Dolittle / December 27, 2018
CT,
“The case marks a new low in Sri Lankan foreign service as this is the first time a Sri Lankan diplomat is facing prosecution from the country he was posted to.”
He must be a former diplomat since he has been prosecuted.
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MirakRajBanda / December 27, 2018
Hush….hush… That may be the reason for illegal appointment of Mhainda Rajapkya as PM to delay the justice!!!
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