US designates Udayanga Weeratunga and Kapila Chandrasena for corruption

The United States has designated two Sri Lankans, former diplomat Udayanga Weeratunga and former SriLankan Airlines official Kapila Chandrasena over their involvement in significant corruption.

The US State Department said that pursuant to Section 7031(c), the Department of State is publicly designating Kapila Chandrasena for his involvement in significant corruption.

Chandrasena allegedly 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 Department of State said that it is also 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.

The US made the announcement on International Anti-Corruption Day and on the eve of Human Rights Day to promote accountability for perpetrators of corruption and human rights abuse around the world.

The two Sri Lankans were part of 14 individuals, including immediate family members designated for their involvement in significant corruption and one official for his involvement in a gross violation of human rights, pursuant to Section 7031(c) of the annual Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (?Section 7031(c)?), 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.

Additionally, on the anniversary of President Biden issuing Presidential Proclamation 10685, the Department has taken action under this authority to restrict the visas of individuals who have enabled, facilitated, or otherwise been involved in significant corruption and their immediate family members.

Concurrently, the United States, in close coordination with the United Kingdom, is sanctioning nine individuals and 19 entities comprising a global corruption network based in Zimbabwe under the Global Magnitsky sanctions program and three individuals and entities in Yemen and Syria connected to human rights abuses under the Global Magnitsky sanctions program and the Syria sanctions program. For more information about Treasury?s action, please see their press release. (Colombo Gazette)