SriLankan Airlines former CEO Kapila Chandrasena for allegedly accepting bribe from Airbus:
Former SL Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga for allegedly corrupt MiG deal for SLAF:
The United States has imposed sanctions on 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 US State Department announced a slew of sanctions on Monday (9) 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 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 US State Department 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 country’s 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 Chandrasena 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, was also accused of benefitting from a corrupt scheme involving the procurement of MiG aircraft for the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF). He and immediate family members were designated, the statement said.
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 re-designating 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.
“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 SriLankan 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,” the Statement Department statement said.
“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 Lanka Air Force. As part of this action, his immediate family members are also designated.”
