Family members of Sri Lanka’s political elite have been appointed to foreign posting whilst the Foreign Ministry insists that the decision based on experience and educational qualifications.
Amongst the appointments are Dulmini Attanayake, daughter of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) parliamentarian Tissa Attanayake, and Subashini Samaranayake, daughter of Mohan Samaranayake, Director General of the Presidential Media Unit.
Another appointed at a Sri Lankan Mission overseas is Randula Gunewardane, daughter of Minister Bandula Gunawardane, whom the senior Foreign Ministry official specifically pointed out as being highly qualified. Randula Gunewardane is expected to be appointed to the position of Third Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka at the United Nations.
The Rajapaksa family is notorious for appointing family members to senior cabinet positions, with Basil Rajapaksa gaining the moniker “Mr Ten Percent” as he would demand “a ten per cent commission on every project”.
Ms Attanayake has claimed that the appointments were made by the former government, and specifically by former Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana, and that the current Rajapaksa regime were only carrying these forwards.
This announcement follows a reporting by the Colombo Telegraph alleging that President’s Commission of Political Victimisation will exonerate and acquit Sri Lankan war criminals and money launders whilst punishing those who lodge complaints. The report also claims that several Rajapaksa family members and close associates will be exonerated.
