Author: TELO Admin

Former MP Thalatha Athukorala yesterday presented evidence to the media challenging the academic credentials of Speaker Asoka Sapumal Ranwala, alleging he never pursued a doctorate at Waseda University in Japan, as previously claimed.

The controversy surrounding Speaker Ranwala’s qualifications erupted after opposition parties accused him of falsely using the title “Dr.” The Parliament website initially listed him as “Dr Asoka Sapumal Ranwala,” but the designation was quietly removed this week.

Athukorala highlighted the gravity of the situation, noting the Speaker’s pivotal role as the third-highest-ranking official in Sri Lanka, after the President and Prime Minister. She pointed out that the Speaker also chairs the Constitutional Council, which oversees critical appointments, including those in the judiciary and the police force.

“The Speaker acts on behalf of the President or Prime Minister in their absence. Such a significant position demands integrity. The NPP Government, which promised to clean up Parliament, has instead compromised it with such appointments,” she said.

Former SLPP MP Premanath C. Dolawatta joined the criticism, calling for Ranwala’s resignation. “The removal of the doctorate title from the Parliament website is an admission of guilt. Claiming such a qualification without merit insults the dignity of the Speaker’s office. He must step down and allow for a new Speaker to be appointed,” he said.

The controversy has intensified scrutiny on the Government’s commitment to transparency and ethical governance, with the opposition accusing it of failing to deliver on its anti-corruption pledges.

Former Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya has also called on Speaker Asoka Sapumal Ranwala to either substantiate his academic qualifications or step down from his position.

The controversy surrounding Ranwala’s credentials deepened after recent alterations to his LinkedIn profile and Wikipedia page, which initially claimed he held a PhD in Biochemistry from Waseda University in Japan. These references to the doctorate have since been removed. The LinkedIn profile also previously listed a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Moratuwa and a role as Director at the BioGenic Green Technology Research Institute.

Upon Ranwala’s appointment as Speaker, Parliament released a press statement introducing him with the following credentials:

“Dr. Asoka Ranwala represents the Gampaha District and entered Parliament following the most recent General Election. Beginning his political career as a member of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Dr. Ranwala currently serves as a member of the National Executive Committee of the NPP. Dr. Ranwala completed his primary education at Yatiyana Primary School and his secondary education at Henegama Central College. He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Moratuwa and a doctorate in Biochemistry from Waseda University, Japan. Dr. Ranwala has also previously served as a member of the Biyagama Pradeshiya Sabha and the Western Provincial Council.”

Billionaire Gautam Adani-led conglomerate on Tuesday said it will use its own resources to fund a Sri Lankan port project and not seek US funding.

In an exchange filing late on Tuesday, Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd said the project “is on track for commissioning by early next year” and added that the company will fund the ongoing project through “internal accruals”, aligning with its capital management strategy.

The company said it has withdrawn its 2023 “request for financing from the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)”.

The US International Development Finance Corp, in November last year, agreed to provide a USD 553 million loan to support the development, construction, and operation of a deep-water container terminal called the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) at the Port of Colombo in Sri Lanka.

A consortium of Adani Ports, Sri Lankan conglomerate John Keells Holdings Plc, and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) is developing the CWIT.

Also Read: Adani Ports’ concession extended, raising concerns on monopoly, revenue loss
DFC financing was part of the US government’s broader efforts to counter China’s growing influence in the region and was seen as an endorsement of Adani’s ability to develop world-class infrastructure.

However, the loan process stalled after the DFC asked that the agreement between Adani and the SLPA be amended to align with their conditions, which then went under review by Sri Lanka’s Attorney General. As the project is nearing completion, Adani Ports, which holds 51 per cent of the venture, chose to proceed with the project without funding from the DFC, officials privy to the process explained.

The US agency had recently stated that it was “actively assessing the ramifications” of the bribery allegations against the Adani group executives. It had so far not disbursed any money to the ports-to-energy conglomerate.

Last month, the US Department of Justice charged the Adani group’s founder chairman Gautam Adani, and seven others over allegedly conspiring to pay USD 265 million in bribes to Indian officials to secure lucrative solar power supply contracts that were expected to yield USD 2 billion in profits over 20 years.

Adani group has denied all charges as baseless and vowed to pursue all possible legal recourse.

The Port of Colombo is the largest and busiest transhipment port in the Indian Ocean. It has been operating at more than 90 per cent utilisation since 2021, signalling its need for additional capacity.

Also Read: US joins Adani Group to build terminal at Colombo port
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The geopolitically sensitive port project in Sri Lanka is as much of a move by the US to counter Chinese influence in the island nation.

Phase 1 of the project is scheduled to become commercially operational by Q1 2025.

The new terminal will cater to growing economies in the Bay of Bengal, taking advantage of Sri Lanka’s prime position on major shipping routes and its proximity to these expanding markets.

The Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) project was initiated in September 2021, when Adani Ports signed an agreement with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Sri Lankan conglomerate John Keells Holdings, pledging over USD 700 million to expand the capabilities of Colombo Port.

The CWIT will be Sri Lanka’s largest and deepest container terminal, with a quay length of 1,400 metres and an alongside depth of 20 metres. When complete, the terminal will be able to handle Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) with capacities of 24,000 TEUs and is expected to have an annual handling capacity of over 3.2 million TEUs.

As of September 30, 2024, Adani Ports had approximately USD 1.1 billion (Rs 8,893 crore) in cash reserves and generated an operating profit of USD 2.3 billion (Rs 18,846 crore) in the past 12 months.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized that no matter how many laws are enacted or institutions are established, justice cannot be ensured to the citizens if those responsible for enforcing them fail to implement them properly.

He further highlighted that the power entrusted by the people must be utilized to serve them; otherwise, that power becomes meaningless.

President Dissanayake made these remarks during a ceremony held today (09) at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) to mark the “International Anti-Corruption Day National Celebration – 2024.”

This year’s International Anti-Corruption Day is being commemorated under the theme, ” Uniting with Youth against Corruption: Shaping tomorrow’s Integrity.”

The President pointed out that Sri Lanka already has sufficient laws and institutions to combat bribery and corruption. However, he called for introspection, urging all to examine their conscience and question whether these mechanisms are truly being employed to prevent misconduct.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake described corruption and bribery as a social tragedy and questioned the relevance of celebrating International Anti-Corruption Day, given Sri Lanka’s decline in rankings from 79th in the international index in 2013 to 115th in 2023.

He highlighted that corruption and fraud have worsened year by year, stressing that if tangible progress is not made in reducing these issues by next year, such celebrations would hold no real value.

The President also noted the performance of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), revealing that 69 cases were filed in 2021, of which 40 were later withdrawn. Similarly, in 2022, 89 cases were filed, and 45 were subsequently withdrawn.

President Dissanayake emphasized the need to inform the public about the reasons behind the withdrawal of bribery and corruption cases and to disclose why investigating officers failed to appear as witnesses in these cases.

Highlighting that the Bribery or Corruption Commission had convicted only two constables, a Grama Niladhari, and a clerk in a single year, the President noted a widespread public perception that the law in Sri Lanka operates like a spider’s web—where small offenders get caught, while powerful individuals escape unscathed.

The President stressed that rebuilding the country requires a complete overhaul of the state system, asserting that a healthy and functional state cannot be created without such reforms.

He further pointed out that the public’s trust in the legal system and its institutions has been eroded, emphasizing that justice delayed is justice denied.

The President urged collective dedication to transform Sri Lanka into a state with minimal corruption, which he said is essential to restore citizens’ confidence and fulfill their expectations.

As part of these efforts, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), through its JURE project, has trained over 1,000 government officials to serve as exemplary officers. President Dissanayake formally conferred appointments to 15 of these trained officials.

Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Prime Minister G.P. Saputhanthri, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security D.W.R.B. Seneviratne, Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Senior DIG Priyantha Weerasooriya, Chairman of the CIABOC W. M. N. P. Iddawala, Supreme Court Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, foreign ambassadors and CIABOC officials were also present.

The United States has imposed sanctions on the former CEO of SriLankan Airlines Kapila Chandrasena and former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga, along with their immediate family members, for their involvement in “significant corruption”.

The U.S. State Department announced a slew of sanctions on Monday to mark International Anti-Corruption Day and the eve of Human Rights Day, targeting individuals from multiple countries.

Accordingly, the US Department of State has designated 14 individuals, including immediate family members, from countries around the world for significant corruption and one individual for gross violations of human rights, pursuant to Section 7031(c) of the Department’s annual appropriations act, rendering them ineligible for entry into the United States.

The Department of State is also further taking steps to impose visa restrictions on dozens of individuals pursuant to multiple policies under section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The 14 individuals designated for significant corruption includes two Sri Lankan nationals, namely the former CEO of SriLankan Airlines Kapila Chandrasena and former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga.

A State Department statement said Kapila Chandrasena, the former CEO of SriLankan Airlines, was designated for sanctions along with immediate family members, for allegedly accepting a bribe in exchange for ensuring Sri Lanka purchased Airbus aircraft for over market value.

Sri Lanka’s former ambassador to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga, meanwhile, was accused of benefiting from a corrupt scheme involving the procurement of MiG aircraft for the Sri Lankan Air Force. He and immediate family members were designated, the statement said.

In 2020, Sri Lanka ordered a probe into allegations of bribery by European planemaker Airbus over the sale of aircraft to state-run carrier SriLankan Airlines, after Airbus agreed to settle a corruption probe with regulators.

A senior official at SriLankan Airlines said at the time that a Colombo court had issued orders to arrest Chandrasena and his wife Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake as suspects of money laundering.

Also sanctioned were North Macedonia’s former deputy prime minister, Artan Grubi, as well as Enver Bexheti, a judge from that country’s appeals court and Kevin Kedi, a councilman from the Marshall Islands, for allegedly accepting bribes.

The State Department said the United States was redesignating UK resident Fawaz Akhras, father of the British-born wife of the deposed Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, for providing him with material support.

The State Department also said that the United States, in close coordination with the United Kingdom, was also sanctioning nine individuals and 19 entities involved in a global gold and diamond corruption network based in Zimbabwe.

It said Abdul Qader al-Murtadha, head of the Houthi National Committee for Prisoners’ Affairs (HNCPA) and that organization were designated for involvement in torture, while visa restrictions were imposed on seven individuals accused of undermining peace and security in the West Bank.

None of the individuals named could immediately be reached for comment on the steps, which involve a range of sanctions including freezes of any U.S. assets and U.S. visa bans.

The US State Department statement says the following regarding the two former Sri Lankan officials:

Kapila Chandrasena, Former CEO of Sri Lanka Airlines

“Pursuant to Section 7031(c), the Department of State is publicly designating Kapila Chandrasena for his involvement in significant corruption. Chandrasena accepted a bribe while serving in his capacity as Sri Lankan Airlines CEO in exchange for ensuring Sri Lanka purchased Airbus aircraft for over market value. As part of this action, his immediate family members are also designated.”

Udayanga Weeratunga, Former Ambassador to Russia

“Pursuant to Section 7031(c), the Department of State is publicly designating Udayanga Weeratunga for his involvement in significant corruption. Weeratunga orchestrated and personally benefitted from a corrupt scheme involving the procurement of MiG aircraft for the Sri Lankan Air Force. As part of this action, his immediate family members are also designated.”

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will be sharing the new government’s policies with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his forthcoming visit to India, and shortly after, early next month, an official visit to China, where attracting investments, continuing with projects suspended, and negotiations of restructuring of loans will be the focus.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told the Sunday Times that discussions were underway with Indian officials on the MoUs (Memoranda of Understanding) expected to be signed between the two countries in New Delhi. He said the
focus was likely to centre on Indian investment projects, especially in the power sector.

The visit is scheduled for Monday, December 16. The government was working out the delegation that was to accompany the President.

An official visit by President Dissanayake to China was on the cards early next month, and several MoUs on education and technology would be signed, Minister Herath said.

He said highway projects for which Chinese funding had been provided and later suspended were also among the subjects that would be taken up for discussion during the visit.

“The Chinese government has funded Sri Lanka on several projects and supported the country on the debt restructuring progamme. Among the assistance provided has been the school uniform material for children for next year as a grant and a digitalisation project for schools. Therefore, we believe that the visit will be helpful to obtain further economic support and strengthen relations,” the minister said.