COLOMBO: The United States Department of State has designated two former high-ranking Sri Lankan officials, along with 12 other individuals worldwide, for their involvement in significant corruption. These individuals, and their immediate family members, face visa restrictions under a proclamation by President Joe Biden.
Kapila Chandrasena, the former CEO of SriLankan Airlines, and Udayanga Weeratunga, a former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia, were named for their roles in corrupt schemes. The announcement coincided with International Anti-Corruption Day and preceded Human Rights Day.
The U.S. State Department stated that Chandrasena accepted bribes while serving as CEO of SriLankan Airlines in exchange for facilitating the purchase of Airbus aircraft at inflated prices. Meanwhile, Weeratunga was involved in a corrupt procurement scheme for MiG aircraft for the Sri Lankan Air Force, from which he personally benefited.
Both individuals have been publicly designated under Section 7031(c) for corruption-related offenses, which also extends the designation to their immediate family members.
The visa restrictions come as part of Presidential Proclamation 10685, issued in December 2023, aimed at barring entry into the United States for individuals involved in significant corruption and their families. The State Department emphasized its commitment to holding perpetrators of corruption and human rights abuses accountable.
Weeratunga, a close relative of the influential Rajapaksa family that governed Sri Lanka during several periods, has faced legal action in connection with the MiG aircraft deal. He was arrested in Dubai in 2018, extradited to Sri Lanka in 2020, and granted bail in April of that year.
Chandrasena, along with his wife, surrendered to Sri Lankan authorities in February 2020 concerning the SriLankan Airlines bribery scandal. Both were granted bail a month later after being remanded.
This U.S. action underscores its broader efforts to combat corruption globally and promote accountability for individuals and networks enabling such activities.
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