Request for international warrant to arrest Udayanga Weeratunga

MONDAY, 26 SEPTEMBER 2016

The FCID has requested Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne to issue a warrant through Interpol for the arrest of former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga in connection with the accusation that he had caused a huge financial loss to the country in a transaction in which Ukraine-built MIG-27 aircraft were bought in 2006. This is the second time such a request was made by the FCID to arrest Udayanga Weeratunga.

The Foreign Ministry has informed Court that the summons sent to Udayanga Weeratunga was not handed over to him as he was not residing at the address given in Ukraine.

The FCID told Court that Weeratunga had not returned his diplomatic passport to the Foreign Ministry but has been travelling illegally on a forged passport. The Court was informed that Weeratunga was recently seen in a photograph taken with former president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The hearing was fixed to 30th September when the decision on the issue of international warrant on Weeratunga would be announced.

Weeratunga is also accused of illegal arms deals, carrying out an arms racket with Ukraine rebels and murder. Udayanga Weeratunga is a close relative of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and had been appointed as the Ambassador for Sri Lanka in Russia for nine long years.