Diplomat given deadline

30 March 2010 10:53 am

By Jamila Najmuddin

The Foreign Ministry has issued a deadline for a diplomat who was working at the Sri Lankan embassy in Japan to give an explanation over his conduct or face disciplinary action.

The diplomat, Tilak Attanayaka, who was holding the post as a Minister Consular in the Sri Lankan Embassy in Tokyo from mid 2007 till 2009 is alleged to have returned to Colombo with antique items from his landlord’s residence in Japan.

The landlord had lodged a complaint with the Foreign Ministry in Colombo immediately, demanding Attanayaka to return back his belongings.

Sources at the Foreign Ministry told Daily Mirror online that the Ministry had informed Attanayaka to be present for an inquiry over his conduct last week but the diplomat had failed to appear stating he had to attend to some personal matters.

However the Ministry has now issued a deadline of Thursday and has warned that if the diplomat fails to be present on or before the said date then the Ministry will resort to taking serious action.

Daily Mirror online learns that Attanayaka is now discussing with the Japanese landlord to reach to some sort of agreement without getting the authorities involved.

However a report on the incident from Japan has already reached Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama who has said that a full scale inquiry should be held. In order to begin the inquiry, Attanayaka has to be present and submit a written explanation to the Ministry, sources said.

Until the items are returned to him, the landlord, an influential Japanese businessman, has said he will not return the 610,000 Yen (Rs.762,500) deposit placed with him by the Sri Lanka Embassy in Japan. (Daily Mirror online)