The United States has imposed sanctions on the 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 announced additional measures against those connected to corruption and human rights abuses, on International Anti-Corruption Day (Dec. 9) and on the eve of Human Rights Day.
Accordingly, the US Department of State has designated 14 individuals, including immediate family members, from countries around the world for significant 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 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.
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.
The fact sheet issued in this regard by the Office of the Spokesperson of the US State Department states the following regarding the two former Sri Lankan officials.
Kapila Chandrasena, Former CEO of Sri Lanka Airlines
“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 Sri Lankan 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.”
Udayanga Weeratunga, Former Ambassador to Russia
“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 Lankan Air Force. As part of this action, his immediate family members are also designated.”
The other individuals sanctioned include former Deputy Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Artan Grubi, Judge for North Macedonia Court of Appeals, Enver Bexheti, Councilman for Rongelap Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), Kevin Kedi, and Deputy Koramil Commander (Indonesia), Alpius Hasim Madi.
Meanwhile, concurrently, the United States, in close coordination with the United Kingdom, is also 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.
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