{"id":207429,"date":"2020-01-11T11:03:40","date_gmt":"2020-01-11T05:33:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=207429"},"modified":"2020-01-11T11:54:02","modified_gmt":"2020-01-11T06:24:02","slug":"gotas-buddy-malraj-mahindas-buddy-ex-sc-judge-eva-nominated-as-ambassadors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/gotas-buddy-malraj-mahindas-buddy-ex-sc-judge-eva-nominated-as-ambassadors\/","title":{"rendered":"Gota\u2019s Buddy Malraj, Mahinda\u2019s Buddy Ex-SC Judge Eva Nominated As Ambassadors"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Gotabaya Rajapaksa<\/span><\/strong><\/a> administration has gone back to the 2005-2014 practice of appointing a host of near and dear ones to top government posts, the latest in a series being the appointment of his schoolmate and Los Angeles neighbour Malraj De Silva.<\/p>\n

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Malraj De Silva<\/p><\/div>\n

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Eva Wansundera<\/p><\/div>\n

According to an advertisement calling for representations on ambassadors nominated to serve in Sri Lankan missions overseas, published in the newspapers by the Secretary General of Parliament, De Silva has been nominated by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to serve as Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).<\/p>\n

The last time the Rajapaksa regime held power Malraj De Silva was appointed Sri Lanka\u2019s Consul General to LA, allowing him to continue to reside in his hometown that he shared with Gotabaya Rajapaksa while earning a fat paycheck courtesy of the Sri Lankan Government. De Silva is still under investigation by the FCID for renting a palatial residence in LA while serving as Consul General at a whopping USD 8000 per month. De Silva never provided a statement to FCID officials about the charge. It was claimed that Gotabaya Rajapaksa\u2019s son Manoj Rajapaksa resided at the luxury house while he completed his higher studies. Two military personnel had been assigned to him for security, while water, electricity and other utility expenses were borne by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.<\/p>\n

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Gota at Malraj De Silva’s home<\/p><\/div>\n

Rajapaksa stayed at the De Silva residence inside a gated community located east of Los Angeles, California when he visited the US in March\/April 2019. It was during that visit that Rajapaksa was served summons in the case filed against him in a California district court by the daughter of slain Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge, accusing the former defence secretary and current president of Sri Lanka of masterminding and executing her father\u2019s murder in January 2009.<\/p>\n

Video taken at Malraj De Silva’s home in Los Angeles and features Upul Dharmadasa, Gotabaya’s travel agent<\/a><\/span> who has been appointed Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority: <\/strong><\/p>\n