Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

(Lanka-e-News, 2008 March 12, 10.45 PM) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received a number of complaints against the Sri Lanka ambassadors of Netherlands, Britain and Kuwait, they are investigated and disciplinary action will be taken if they are found guilty, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs Rohitha Bogollagama.

He made these comments at a press conference held today (12) at Foreign Ministry in response to a question to Lanka-e-News representative.

The ambassador to Netherlands is accused of excessive expenses, recruiting a Philippine driver to drive the ambassador's children to a school 60 KM away, allocating a separate vehicle for that, paying advance to another vehicle for her use while there is a vehicle of good condition and paying only Rs. 10,000 monthly salary to the housemaids recruited for salaries of Rs. 30,000 each.

Lanka-e-News exposed the conduct of the Netherlands ambassador on February 27.

In response to this news, ambassador Ms. Pamela Dheen Jayasekara sent the housemaid back home without paying her arrears. She was given only Euro 139 and since the visa was not given deliberately, she had to pay a fine of Euro 100 at Frankfurt airport while she was transiting.

Lanka-e-News exposed this story on March 05.

The Foreign Minister said to Lanka-e-News that the returned housemaid lodged a complaint at the Ministry in this regard. An investigation is conducted and the report will be submitted to the Minister in two days time. The ambassador will be removed from the post if the allegations are proved, said the Minister.

Kshenuka Senevirathna, the Sri Lanka High Commissioner of UK is accused of acquiring a separate house for a rent of 10,000 Sterling Pounds per month while keeping the official residence of the High Commissioner empty. The rental commenced from 3000 Sterling Pounds and rapidly increased in a dubious way. Lanka-e-News exposed this on February 18.

In response to Lanka-e-News, the Foreign Minister said that a house owned by the High Commission would be built and an investigation is carried out to know if the rent was reasonable.

Kuwait Sri Lanka ambassador's dubious fundraising of Rs. 2.5 million from corrupt agencies and a similar legal firm for an Independence Day party was exposed by Lanka-e-News on March 07. Lanka-e-News received several emails in response to the story and they charged that the news was a malicious one spread by the people jealous of the ambassador's productive service and 'no to liquor' policy.

One Nimesh who claimed to have worked in Kuwait for seven years said that the ambassador had solved lot of issues related to the Sri Lankan workers in Kuwait. He said that the ambassador who is a qualified management consultant and a friend of the President is working to enhance the bilateral relations.

Another person who identified himself as a senior diplomat in Kuwait for the past 18 years asked if Lanka-e-News verified the accuracy of the details of the party.

Another 'Camel' said the embassy was a tavern before Ambassador Suheli's arrival and a good environment for solving the problems of the Sri Lankans was created under his administration.

However, the Foreign Minister said that complaints have been received on the Independence Day party of the Sri Lanka embassy of Kuwait and an investigation is carried out.

Minister Bogollagama further said that the maximum slots would be allocated to the permanent officials of the Foreign Service instead of political appointments. He said that nine of the 11 ambassadors of Europe are the permanent officials of the Foreign Service.

And eating well too! :)

Hope you ARE too!

it is expected Arab League come to a conclusion to send a high level delegates to meet Srilankan president to change his mind.

Maid- SA. Wd love to hv a Filipina though!Wife may not though!

Dont those little things like age though!
I'm no teenager either