Parliament’s High Post halts Govt’s nominee to a diplomatic post for second time

Colombo, August 23 (Daily Mirror) - In a development that exposes a grave breach of public trust and accountability, Parliament’s High Posts Committee, for the second time, has halted the nomination of H.M.V.B. Vijitha Herath to a diplomatic position, following a series of severe and well-documented allegations involving falsification of official records, unlawful possession of an Official Passport and misrepresentation of citizenship status.

The Committee chaired by PM Harini Amarasuriya has reportedly escalated the matter to relevant investigative bodies — a move reflecting the potentially criminal nature of the revelations.

Daily Mirror learns fabricated diplomatic credentials, illegal use of privileged passport, concealment of foreign citizenship, and doctored academic and professional claims — all packaged under the pretence of public service. If substantiated, these offences could amount to violations of Sri Lankan law, including fraud, unlawful procurement of travel documents, and misconduct in public life.

1. Fraudulent Diplomatic Claims: The South Sudan Deception

Herath’s CV asserts that he served as Sri Lanka’s Honorary Consul in South Sudan from 2011 to 2014. However, verified records from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirm that no Commission of Appointment or Exequatur was ever issued by the Government of South Sudan — two legal prerequisites for any diplomatic post.

According to established procedure, an Honorary Consul is formally appointed through a Commission of Appointment issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. This is then presented to the host country’s Foreign Ministry, which issues an Exequatur authorising the Honorary Consul to perform official consular functions. In this case, neither a Commission of Appointment nor an Exequatur was issued. No documentary evidence exists to validate his claim.

“This isn’t an exaggeration — it’s outright forgery,” said a senior Foreign Ministry official. “Without these authorisations, he was never a representative of Sri Lanka.”

This falsehood undermines the foundation of Herath’s purported diplomatic experience and points to a calculated attempt to deceive both the Foreign Ministry and Parliament.

2. Illegal Possession and Use of Government-Issued Passport

Herath is also under scrutiny for unlawfully acquiring and using an official Sri Lankan passport (No. OL3640273) after resigning from public service. The passport, unlawfully issued on December 29, 2011, was valid until 2021, during which period he was in his private business in South Sudan and falsely listed his profession as “UN Desk Officer” used in a Sri Lankan Passport — a designation reserved for seconded diplomats.

Official immigration logs show Herath used this passport on multiple international trips between 2018 and 2021, including re-entry to Sri Lanka in December 2018 and travel outside the UK in early 2021. This constitutes a direct violation of the Immigration and Emigration Act if it is proven, which limits such documentation strictly to active state officials. This matter warrants an investigation into irregularities, fraud, or misconduct in its issuance.

Legal experts stress that this breach is criminal in nature:

“Misuse of an official passport after resignation is not an administrative error — it is a prosecutable offence,” said one senior immigration law expert. “The act of securing such a document under false pretences amounts to fraud.”

Despite formal requests, Herath has yet to submit the passport for verification. Instead, he curiously obtained a new ordinary Sri Lankan passport (No. P0531474) on 7 July 2025 and returned from London on 20th July 2025 to appear before the High Posts Committee.

3. Concealment of British Citizenship: A Clear Violation of Law

Investigations also reveal that Herath has been living in the UK for an extended period and is believed to have acquired British citizenship under the refugee status — a fact he failed to disclose during official interactions with Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration.

Under Section 45 of the Immigration and Emigration Act, non-disclosure of dual nationality during the passport application process is a punishable offence.

“This is a serious omission,” said a senior immigration official. “Obtaining a Sri Lankan passport while concealing foreign citizenship could be considered fraudulent procurement of government documents.”

Herath may be liable for criminal prosecution and permanently disqualified from holding public or diplomatic office.

4. Misrepresentation of UN Involvement: False Diplomatic Identity

Herath has long touted his international exposure through UN missions in East Timor and Sudan as proof of diplomatic stature. However, official records and multiple UN peacekeeping sources confirm that he served merely as a Sri Lankan police officer seconded to UN operations — a far cry from the diplomatic roles he claims.

“He was never contracted by the United any UN diplomatic status,” said a former UN Peacekeeping Liaison Officer. “His claims are categorically false.”

Despite this, Herath’s public profiles and CV refer to him as a “UN diplomat” — a gross misrepresentation that could constitute deliberate deception of state institutions and foreign partners.

5. Academic Fabrication: Questionable Degrees and Timelines

Herath’s educational record, too, appears inconsistent. He claims to have completed a Postgraduate Certificate and a Master’s degree between 2001 and 2002, coinciding with his deployment in East Timor. These overlapping timelines raise serious doubts about the legitimacy of these academic credentials.

More troubling is the absence of any verified undergraduate degree — a prerequisite for most postgraduate programmes.

“These discrepancies demand immediate verification,” said an academic credential specialist. “If forged, this could constitute academic fraud, particularly if used to qualify for public appointments.”

Some of the members of the High Posts Committee said. “This is no longer about fitness for office,” “This is about criminal laws were broken.”