Today we reveal that Sri Lanka’s former Ambassador to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga obtained UAE residency in late 2016. We also reveal that Weeratunga was until last week at least, residing in his property in the tiny emirate of Ajman. This property is thought to be the basis of Weeratunga obtaining UAE residency and current information is that his residency is up for renewal in October 2018, suggesting that his residency was obtained in October 2016.
Weeratunga’s residency in the UAE and that his diplomatic passport carries no physical indication of being withdrawn are the major issues the Sri Lankan government are facing in their quest to ensure Weeratunga returns to Sri Lanka to help the FCID with their enquiries on a number of separate matters including the high profile case of any involvement in the purchase of MiG fighter jets undertaken during the Rajapaksa presidency.
Several bank accounts in the name of Weeratunga in Sri Lanka have also been ‘frozen’ and local media reports have indicated that the nett balance in these accounts total in excess of USD 1.5 million or Rs 230 Million approximately.
Diplomatic representations are being made to the UAE and Foreign Minister Marapona has sought a meeting with his opposite number. The UAE have yet to confirm the date for the meeting.
Inner circle members of the Rajapaksa family reveal that the family are privately relieved that Weeratunga may just be returned to Sri Lanka as they maintain that Weeratunga has always acted ‘solo’ and without reference to the Rajapaksas who were in power.
Sources reveal that the FCID are not unduly excited at the prospect of repatriating Weeratunga who for all intents is quite legally resident in UAE. The fact that he was aware his passport had been withdrawn in 2015 and therefore he may have been technically being economical with the truth at the time of making his residency application is viewed as a matter of little significance. The FCID have successfully managed to obtain an Interpol Red notice against Weeratunga.
However as a source in the UAE pointed out, Weeratunga cannot be forced to leave the UAE and board a flight to Sri Lanka. On the other hand Sri Lanka’s passport department may well issue him with only an emergency travel document specifically valid for use from Dubai to Colombo for a single journey. Even so the decision to leave the UAE and board such a flight to Colombo currently appears to be a choice for Weeratunga to make. The UAE authorities have been exceptionally tight clenched in dealing with the Sri Lankan delegation and contact s limited to a senior UAE official who interacts with the Sri Lanka mission in the UAE.
Meanwhile Gothabya Rajapaksa has consistently maintained that he has nothing to do with the purchase of the MiG jets other than his official role as Defence Secretary.
