Breaking News

Udayanga Weeratunga visits SL embassy in Tehran

03 Jun 2015 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

In a strange turn of events, Sri Lanka’s former Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga, whose name has been implicated in an arms deal controversy, has visited the Sri Lankan Embassy in Tehran with a request to certify a power-of-attorney copy in order to get some of his heavy baggage in the Colombo port to be cleared.

His visit to the Tehran embassy was confirmed by the new Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mahishini Colonne today during a weekly press briefing held at the Ministry premises.

“Former Ambassador Weeratunga had visited the Sri Lankan Embassy in Tehran, Iran on May 5 with a request for his copy of power-of-attorney to be certified and had provided an email address to the embassy officials to continue further communications on the matter,” she said.

However, his request had been declined on the condition that he returns his diplomatic passport to which he had replied via email on May 9, stating that he would not return the diplomatic passport.

Colonne stated despite his objection to return the passport, the Sri Lankan Immigration Department has already taken measures to cancel it with immediate effect and added that all the relevant Sri Lankan Missions have also been notified of the cancellation.

She stated they were awaiting an update from the Ukrainian government concerning the progress of the ongoing investigation against Weeratunga regarding his alleged supply of arms to 19 Ukrainian rebels, while he was serving as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Russia.

Furthermore, Colonne noted that Weeratunga’s passport could not be impounded, since the allegations against him have not been proven and therefore no basis existed upon which it could be implemented.

She however added that officials in Sri Lanka ‘want Mr. Weeratunga to return to Sri Lanka’ as he is implicated with several other ongoing investigations domestically as well, including the MiG-27 deal that is being probed by the Financial Fraud Investigation Department. (Lakna Paranamanna)

Breaking News

Udayanga Weeratunga visits SL embassy in Tehran

Most Popular Articles

More arrests of lawyers, politicians and senior police officers

Former National Lotteries Board Chairperson Shyamila Perera arrested

Girl visited her lover, gang raped by lover and his friends

Updated World Test Championship standings after West Indies’ record win over Sri Lanka

Historic locomotive move between Kandy and Peradeniya without tracks

Country loses US $ 1 billion in fraudulent transactions, certain banks involved

Latest News

Wasantha Karannagoda granted bail

Rakitha, Chatith and Aruna further remanded

Colombo Law Society urges President to abandon plan to extend judges’ retirement age

Kelani Valley train services to resume from today

Private bus driver arrested following reckless road race in Kotavila