Former Ambassador Udayanga Weeratunga is still being detained by UAE authorities after he was intercepted in the UAE on Sunday 4th of February 2018 when he attempted to leave to the United States, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today.
The former diplomat had been evading a warrant of arrest issued on 20 October 2016 by a Colombo Magistrate, in relation to investigations pertaining to alleged embezzlement of public funds to the tune of 7.833 million US dollars with regard to procurement of MiG aircraft and money laundering.
Udayanga Weeratunga was arrested on the basis of a ‘Blue Notice’ issued by the Interpol. The purpose of this notice was to trace and locate Mr. Weeratunga ‘as a person of interest in a 'criminal investigation’. However, as the law in the UAE and the rules governing Interpol ‘blue notice’ prevented the continued detention of the fugitive diplomat, he had been released by the UAE authorities subsequently.
However, as the Police in the UAE are still investigating this matter, Weeratunga has been prevented from leaving the territory of the UAE until the conclusion of these investigations.
In the meantime, the FCID, which is investigating the allegations and complaints against Weeratunga in Sri Lanka, are working with the Interpol in Abu Dhabi on this case. The Sri Lankan Embassy in Abu Dhabi has also retained lawyers in the UAE specializing in immigration matters to advice the Government of Sri Lanka on this matter.
Moreover, a delegation of Sri Lankan officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Attorney General’s Department and the FCID are presently in the UAE having discussions with the concerned authorities in the UAE with the aim of having Weeratunga deported to Sri Lanka to answer the allegations levelled against him, The Foreign Ministry added.
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