Former diplomat Udayanga Weeratunga arrested in Dubai

• CID, AG’s Department and Foreign Ministry to work on Weeratunga’s extradition
• Police say Interpol assistance will be sought for investigation

Former Sri Lankan Amba-ssador to Russia and Ukraine, Udayanga Weeratunga, who was on the run from authorities, was apprehended at the Dubai airport yesterday. 

Police Spokesperson SP Ruwan Gunasekara, speaking to the Daily FT, revealed that the arrest was carried out by the Immigration officers of the Dubai airport. 

“Dubai immigration officers first took in him in for questioning before making the arrest,” the Police spokesperson said. 

He went on to note that the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) along with the Attorney General’s Department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will work in unison with regard to the extradition of Weeratunga. 

SP Gunasekara added both the Financial Crimes Investigations Division and CID were involved in the investigation.



Furthermore, the assistance of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) was being utilised to proceed with the investigation, SP Gunasekara remarked. 

Weeratunga, who is also a relative of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, is alleged to have misappropriated $ 14 million in a controversial deal where four Ukranian-built MIG-27 aircraft were bought for the Sri Lankan Air Force. 

The Colombo Fort Magistrate Court on 19 October 2016 issued a directive allowing the FCID to issue an international warrant to arrest Weeratunga in connection with the MIG deal. 

Additionally, the Court in January 2017 ordered the suspension of 16 bank accounts belonging to Weeratunga.

The Fort Magistrate Court last month issued an order banning the sale or transfer of any property belonging to Weeratunga in Sri Lanka. (SG)